11 Sept., 191 i] Tke Soy Bean. 629 



Probable Causes of Failure. 



Every new plant has its peculiarities, its likes and dislikes, as to soil, 

 depth of .sowing, and su.sceptibility to climatic conditions ; these may vary 

 for each particular variety of .soy Ijean. Until we can find out w^hat varie- 

 ties are best suited to these varying conditions we must not condemn 

 this bean. Other countries, for instance, the United States, underwent 

 similar experiences, and for a long time the soy bean was much decried. 

 Some of the likely causes of failures in Victoria wall now be dealt wdth. 



(i) Bad Germination. — It has been proved that seeds rich in both oil and 

 proteids are very susceptible of having iheir germinative powers destroyed 

 by sweating and heating. As the seeds had naturally to be imported, the 

 result was often a very poor stand or none at all. I ha\'e proved this for 

 the last three years, the acclimatized and fresh seeds in every case giving 

 a germination of 95 to 100 per cent. Seed more than one year old. and 

 imported seed that has sweated in transit, are primarily the cause of bad 

 germination. Until there is a sufficiency of locally grown seed to distribute 

 to the farmers, discouraging reports as to germination results will continue 

 to be received. 



(2) Variety. — So far, there has been no choice of variety. Some 

 varieties are totally unsuited for this State, although succeeding elsewhere, 

 notably the Buckshot and Mammoth. The former was found to be the 

 hardiest for North Queensland and with opposite results in this State. 



(3) Alkalinity of the Soil: — It mast he borne in mind that many of the 

 leguminous plants depend for their successful growth on the presence of 

 the right kind of bacteria in the soil, and on new soil there is often con- 

 siderable difficulty in getting the .soy plant in<x:ulated with tubercles of 

 nitrifying bacteria. By growing this bean for three or four years in suc- 

 cession on the same soil inoculation is almost sure to result, provided the 

 soil is not acid in reaction. My opinion is, that the nitrifying bacteria 

 necessary for the good growth of any papillionaceous plants are all essen- 

 tially of the same race, with this qualification, that they will take more or 

 less time to adapt themselves to the new kirid of legume. 



If inoculated soil from an old soy bean field is not sown with the 

 beans on new land, and the proper bacteria are not present already in the 

 soil, it is necessary to have a fair amount of available nitrogen present to 

 grow the plant. Numerous experiments in other countries show that on 

 soils pcKx in nitrogen, the soy beans, without nodules on their roots, make 

 imsatisfactory growth. It is also recognized that any of the leguminous 

 plants will not thrive on an acid soil, mainly becau.se the bacteria are not 

 in that case able to develop and thrive; therefore, the importance of the 

 addition of lime to those lands to make them alkaline, and also of the 

 .secondary effect that the lime has of liJMMating ]iotash from clavs, whicn 

 \< .so necessary for the growth of legumes. 



(4) Depth of Sowing the Seed. — This is another prolific cause of failure. 

 For our climate, the depth of sowing should Ix? as shallow as the moisture 

 supply will permit. There is le.ss chance of failure through the formation 

 of a .soil crust. Near Mellwurne, I have frnuid that on stiff soils it is 

 sufficient to just cover the seed; i to : in. wonid he .liiout the right depth 

 tor the warmer parts of Victoria. 



Other Causes of Failure may in- dvu- to continut-d ht\ivy rain falling 

 .md rotting the seed, or injuring the young tender jjlants before they are 

 sufficiently rlcvelopcd. Hot north winds are also dangerous. Rabliits. 

 .slugs and cut worms arc xcry partial to the vonng plants. 



