102 



edl}' been taken from the name " soy " given to a sauce (used exten- 

 sively as a condiment) , in the manufacture of which this bean is 

 largely used. The name given to the Japanese variety of this 

 sauce is " sJioyu." This bean is also extensively used in many ways 

 in Japan as human food, and is also largely employed as food for 

 horses and cattle. 



It has been said that this bean is the richest known vegetable 

 substance. " In point of nutriment the soy bean is of all vegetables 

 nearest to meat," says Rein. A sample of beans grown here in 

 1890 has been submitted to analysis, with results shown below : 



SOYA BEAN. 



Glycine Jiispida. 



Per cent. 



Water, 11.53 



Dry mattter, 88.47 



Crude protein, 34.49 



" fat, 16.4.5 



Nitrogen free extract, 26.90 



Crude fibre, 4.40 



Ash, 6.55 



This sample shows an unusually high percentage of ash, probably 

 because the vines were threshed with the roots to which considerable 

 earth adheres. 



Experiments in various parts of the country and at our .State 

 Experiment Station, have abundantly shown the value of some of 

 the varieties of this species as fodder crops ; but the varieties most 

 commonly cultivated are large late sorts which will not usually ripen 

 seed h( re. Several of the varieties which I have had under cultiva- 

 tion, having been taken from nortlieru Japan (Sapporo), ripen seed 

 here with as great certainty as the kinds of corn under common 

 cultivation. It is believed that some of these varieties will prove 

 valuable grain crops. The yield, it is true, cannot be expected to 

 equal that of corn ; but the grain is far richer, and because of the 

 high percentage of protein it contains it is fitted to take the place of 

 bran, cotton-seed meal and linseed meal for which our dairymen 

 yearly pay out so much money. 



It should further be remembered that if the results of modern 

 Investigations on this point are not raisleadirg, this plant must be 

 able to take most of its nitrogen from the air which must vitally 

 aflfect the question of its economy as a farm crop. Most of our crops 



