GRASS AND HAY 95 



should not be covered too deep, as deep planting will result in a poor 

 stand of soy beans. 



(12) As a crop in a short rotation soy beans are very desirable, 

 They can be grown so as to use an entire season in the case of the 

 late varieties, or two crops in one season can be secured from some 

 of the earlier ones. They can also be used very advantageously to 

 follow a small-grain crop the same season. 



(13) The important commercial varieties of soy beans are the 

 Mammoth, the Hollybrook, and the Ito San. Among the most 

 valuable new varieties are the Austin, Wilson, Riceland, Meyer, and 

 Haberlandt, most of which were in the hands of seedsmen in 1910. 

 (Farmers' Bulletin No. 372; Ky. B. 125; Va. B. 168; R. I. B. 92; 

 Ohio C. 78; Kan. B. 92; Tenn. B. 82; also B. 23; Kan. B. 100; 

 Mich. B. 224; Ind. B.'s 120 and 124 and many of those mentioned 

 above.) 



THE VELVET BEAN. 



While this plant has been known in Florida for more than 

 twerity-nve years it received little attention prior to 1895. Until this 

 time it had been used to a limited extent as an ornamental vine. 

 The attention of the Florida Station was directed to the plant in 

 1895. It was shown that it had been used in one neighborhood about 

 twenty years as a covering for trellises and unsightly places. Owing 

 to the enormous growth the plant made it was decided to try it in an 

 orange grove as a soil renovator, and the results were very satis- 

 factory. (Bulletin 35, Flor. Exp. St.) 



Its Culture. The velvet bean requires a long season in order 

 to mature the seed ; therefore, its cultivation will be confined to sec- 

 tions where the growing period is fully eight months. It will do well 

 and mature the seed in Florida and the southern part of the Gulf 

 States. The plant grows well as far north as Tennessee, but beyond 

 southern Georgia it is necessary to purchase seed each, year for 

 planting. 



In Florida the planting should be done in March or April. The 

 quantity of seed to be used for planting an acre may be varied from 

 one to two bushels. The planting may be broadcast yet it is better 

 to plant in rows about four feet apart leaving a space of from one to 

 two feet in ^ the row. This admits of cultivation until the plants are 

 well established and aids in freeing the land from objectionable 

 weeds and grass, and so the resulting forage will be much better than, 

 otherwise. After the velvet bean obtains possession of the soil it 

 shades the ground so completely that other plants are crowded out. 

 If the soil is very thin it is well to supply some potash and phosphoric 

 acid; the quantity to be added depends upon the condition of the 

 land and the crop which is to follow the velvet bean. One hundred 

 pounds of sulphate of potash and two hundred pounds of acid phos- 

 phate should prove ample in most cases. 



Since the bean is a leguminous plant it is not necessary to add 

 any ^ fertilizer containing nitrogen, but unless the land has been 

 previously planted with velvet bean the following procedure should 

 be carried out, where possible, in order that a good crop may be 



