SOYBEANS 531 



early varieties are preferable. Where a whole season can 

 be devoted to soybeans in the South, two crops of early 

 varieties can be grown in place of one crop of a late variety. 

 Especially where seed-production is the object, much larger 

 yields can be obtained by this practice. In the North, 

 soybeans generally occupy the same place in rotation as 

 oats, the principal objection being that the. harvesting of 

 the soybeans presses very closely on the seeding time for 

 wheat. 



647. Feeding value of soybean hay. At the Tennessee 

 Experiment Station, dairy cows were fed soybean hay in 

 comparison with alfalfa hay, and soybean straw in compari- 

 son with corn stover. Judging by the amount of milk 

 and butter fat obtained, the data show a slight superiority 

 of soybean hay alone over alfalfa hay alone. The 

 soybean straw alone produced 12 per cent more milk 

 and 14 per cent more butter fat than the corn stover 

 alone. 



648. Seed-production. The character of growth, the 

 uniform maturing habit of the soybean and the large 

 yield of grain recommend the plant for seed-production. 

 Tall varieties that do not branch nor bear pods close to 

 the ground are most desirable, as they are more easily 

 harvested. 



When grown for grain alone, soybeans should be allowed 

 to develop fully. This stage of maturity is indicated in 

 the case of most varieties when all of the leaves have 

 fallen. The Guelph and a few varieties not on the market 

 retain the leaves late and much seed would be lost by 

 shattering if the harvesting were not done earlier. Soy- 

 beans may be also harvested for grain when the leaves first 

 begin to fall. If cut at this stage practically as much 

 seed is saved as when the plants are allowed to mature, 



