44 8 



to come to maturity. The seed is planted at the rate of half a 

 bushel to the acre, in drills 2\ to 3 feet apart, and cultivated about 

 the same as Indian corn. In Virginia, soja beans are planted 

 between the hills of corn, so that two crops are produced on the 

 same field at the same time. The yields of seed are often 

 enormous. Soja beans are fed to stock green, as silage, or as hay. 

 The haulms are rather woody, and do not make the best quality of 



FIG. 12. Sulla (JHedysarum cnronarium). 



hay, but as either ensilage or green forage they are unsurpassed. 

 The hay contains from 14 to 15 per cent, crude protein and 3 to 6 

 per cent, of fat. The brans contain from 32 to 42 per cent. 

 protein, and from 12 to 21 per cent, of fat in fresh material. When 

 fed to milch cows, a ration of soja beans increases the yield of 

 milk, improves the quantity of the butter, and causes the animal to 

 gain rapidly in weight. It is an excellent addition to a ration for 

 fattening cattle. In China and Japan, where the soja bean is an 

 article of diet, substances similar to butter, oil, and cheese, as well 

 as a variety of dishes, are prepared from it. The yield of green 



