UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



t BULLETIN No. 439 



Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry % 



WM. A. TAYLOR, Chief S^f^^'^U 



Washington, D, C. ▼ December 22, 1916 



THE SOY BEAN, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ITS UTIU- 

 ZATION FOR OIL, CAKE, AND OTHER PRODUCTS. 



By C. V. Piper, Agrostologist in Charge, and W. J. Morse, Scientific Assistant, 

 Forage-Crop Investigations. 



CONTENTS. 



Introduction 1 



Soy beans in Manchuria 2 



Soy beans in Japan 4 



Soy beans in Europe 6 



Soy beans in the United States 7 



Methods of oil extraction 9 



Soy-bean meal as human food 11 



Soy-bean meal as stock feed 13 



Soy-bean meal as a fertilizer 14 



Uses of soy-bean oil 15 



Analyses of important varieties of soy beans . 16 

 Possibility of developing a manufacturing in- 

 dustry with American-grown soy beans ... 17 



INTRODUCTION. 



The soy bean, although a plant of ancient cultivation in China, 

 Chosen (Korea), and Japan, has become of special importance in the 

 world's commerce only within recent years. In extent of uses and 

 value it is the most important legume grown in Asiatic countries. 

 In these countries the soy bean is used to a very considerable extent 

 for human food, the beans being prepared in various ways. As the 

 bean contains a valuable oil, large quantities are utilized by first 

 extracting the oil and then using the cake for stock feed and as a 

 fertilizer. 



Previous to the Russian- Japanese war, China and Japan were not 

 only the greatest producers but also the greatest consumers of the 

 soy b(mn and its manufactured products. About 1908 the first large 

 importations of beans were received in Europe and America from 

 Manchurian ports. The beans were utilized by extracting the oil, 

 which was found valuable for various industrial purposes, leaving 

 the bean cake as a stock feed. As the value of the oil and cake came 

 to be recogniz<»d, new us(^s and markets were found, and the trade in 

 soy beans became one of great importance, until now it has assumed 



Note.— ThI.s bullRtln Is Intended for gonnral di.striljutlon In the Southern Hlatfts, wlioro it will 1)0 of 

 special Interest to farmers and col ton-oil inlllmon. It will also bo of Interest to farmers of the Northern 

 and Tcnlral states and to manufafturcr.s of .soy-l)ean foixl products. 

 57167'— Bull. 43»— IC 1 



