THE SOYA BEAN 149 



which is the natural method, one can speak with every 

 confidence. 



Now, it is extremely doubtful whether there are 

 more than half-a-dozen Europeans who have a practi- 

 cal acquaintance with the successful growing of the 

 soya bean, since the Chinese, always jealous of the 

 secrets of a craft in which they have no rivals 

 throughout the universe, have carefully avoided every 

 attempt by outsiders to become acquainted with the 

 system under which they produce the bean in such 

 enormous quantities, and in so perfect a condition for 

 export to Europe and elsewhere. Nevertheless, the 

 knowledge was obtainable, and the present writer, 

 among others, has been able to conduct many highly 

 interesting and absolutely successful experiments with 

 soya bean in situations and in climates hitherto re- 

 garded as being altogether hopeless for legumes of 

 any kind. 



I present the secret, therefore, to the reader of 

 these pages with the greatest confidence and pleasure. 



The most suitable soil for soya bean is that of 

 a light sandy nature, friable and easy to manipulate. 

 It should be well cleaned and levelled, and inoculated 

 by sowing broadcast four to five bushels of seed to 

 the acre. The best seed for tropical areas is the 

 yellow kind. In two or three days germination will 

 have taken place, and in three weeks the grass should 

 attain a stature of nine to twelve inches. The plant 

 will then begin to branch, and in six weeks at the 

 latest the flower begins to appear. It is at this 

 period that the work of inoculation must be taken 

 in hand, the operation consisting in ploughing in at 



