184 SOJA, OR SOY BEAN 



great secret of its success is to plant the variety best suited to 

 the particular locality. 



In Europe, for instance, it was quite unsuccessful until 

 the precocious and tjuick-growing varieties were tried. This 

 plant may be easily cultivated anywhere, provided a variety 

 or varieties are chosen adapted to the particular climate. 



The soy bean is of erect growth and may be sown very 

 closely. In a pure cultivation the rows may be 40 cm. apart 

 and the seeds at intervals of 30 cm. Owing to the aspect of 

 this plant and its not interfering in any way wath the small 

 canes, the soy bean may be used in a mixed cultivation, and 

 may even be sown in two rows in interspaces of canes. This 

 is a valuable advantage wliich should always be kept in 

 mind. Undoubtedly the yield of green manure will be 

 inferior to that of the cow pea or black pea ; but, at the same 

 time, this plant has commendable qualities. 



The soy bean is not exacting as regards the physical 

 nature of soils. Provided they are not too firm it thrives well 

 nearl}' everywhere. It is particularly resistant to drought, 

 and gives satisfactory results where the yield of the cow pea 

 would only be small. Its demands from the point of view 

 of the chemical qualities of the soil are fairlv large, for it is 

 a rich plant, and abstracts a relatively large proportion of 

 nutritive elements. 



As has already been stated in the course of this work, 

 it is not because the Leguminosa2 are plants which enrich 

 the soil that they have the capacity of thriving in practically 

 all soils. In order to carry out their function of assimilating 

 atmospheric nitrogen they must be placed in conditions 

 favourable to their complete development, especially when 

 they are cultivated for pulse or green fodder. 



This is the case wnth soy, on which a number of manurial 

 experiments have been made. When phosphatic and 

 potassic manures were applied the yield was increased. 



In the treatise by Li-Yu-Ying we get statements of in- 

 creases in the crop of green fodder of 2,400, 2,600, 5,000, 



