SOY BEANS 



133 



no extended effort has been made to grow soy beans in 

 the North. They are classified as early, medium, and 

 late, and each division has many varieties, based on 

 color. 



Habits of Growth. In seed and general appearance the 

 soy bean resembles the ordinary navy bean, especially in 



the early stages of 



growth. The com- 

 mon varieties are 

 erect, bushy, and 

 well-branched, rang- 

 ing from eighteen 

 inches to four feet in 

 height. A covering 

 of fine hair is notice- 

 able over all parts 

 of the plant. The 

 leaves of the soybean 

 are composed of three 

 large leaflets, borne 

 on long leafstalks. The small flowers grow in clusters in 

 the axils of the leaves. The short, hairy pods contain two 

 or three round or slightly flattened seeds, varying in size 

 from an eighth to a quarter of an inch in diameter. The 

 plant has a short, strong taproot with a rather scanty 

 root system. The soy bean is especially adapted to warm 

 climates, but is more resistant to frost than corn, cowpeas, 

 or field beans. The length of season required for matur- 

 ing varies greatly with different varieties, ranging from 

 120 to 1 60 days. In the Northern States great care should 

 be taken to get northern-grown seed of a variety that will 

 mature in the grower's locality. 



Fig. 74. Early soy beans. 



