114 MAINS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1904, 



VARIETIES. 



There are numerous quite distinct varieties of the soy bean, 

 only the earliest of which can be grown in Maine. The early 

 white soy bean is the best variety for seed with us. It is not a 

 good variety, however, for soiling or silage on account of its 

 small size, while its tendency to drop its leaves early unfits it for 

 hay. Plants of this variety matured seed at Orono in 1904. The 

 medium early green is one of the best for Maine as it yields 

 heavily and retains its leaves well. This last is an important 

 feature if it is planned to make hay from the crop. The medium 

 early black is the favorite in the central states. 



In 1903 and 1904 the Station grew several varieties of soy 

 beans from seed furnished by the United States Department of 

 Agriculture. The early white soy bean matured and the 

 medium early green and black varieties formed pods. The 

 Henderson Early, (a medium early green), purchased from 

 Peter Henderson Company, New York, was as satisfactory as 

 any grown, both in earliness and yield. 



CONDITIONS OE GROWTH. 



"It is believed in Japan that in northern climates, soils of a 

 rather strong character are best adapted to the soy bean. It is 

 usually sown about the end of May, and when used for hay is 

 cut early in August. In both Europe and America it has been 

 found to thrive best on soils of medium texture that are well 

 supplied with potash, phosphoric acid, and lime. It succeeds 

 very well, however, on comparatively light soils, often giving an 

 abundant crop on soils too poor to grow clover." * 



The soy bean requires about the same temperature as corn. 

 Professor Brooks says that the earlier sorts will mature in 

 Massachusetts with as much certainty as will the earlier varieties 

 of corn. 



As a general thing, the soy bean is not so easily injured by 

 frost as the common field or garden varieties of beans, and hence 

 it can be planted earlier in the spring and can also be left in the 

 field later in the autumn. 



Farmers' Bulletin 58, U. S. Dept. of Agr. 



