SOY BEANS IN 1VIAINE. 115 



FERTILIZING AND CULTURE. 



Like all leguminous plants, the soy bean, through the aid of 

 root tubercle organisms, acquires atmospheric nitrogen. When 

 the soy bean was first introduced into America it did not form 

 root tubercles. In order to insure the growth of the root 

 tubercles it is necessary to use seed that has been inoculated, or 

 to inoculate the soil with the proper organism. This last is 

 readily done by applying broadcast a small amount of soil taken 

 from a field where soy beans developing root tubercles have. been 

 grown. At this Station no tubercles formed on plants grown in 

 soil that had not been inoculated, but they grew abundantly 

 where soil from infested soy bean was applied at the rate of a 

 few barrels to the acre. According to our experience the beans 

 will grow as well without the root tubercles as with, provided 

 they are liberally fertilized. Their economical growth depends 

 upon the presence of the root tubercles, as in this way they can 

 be grown with little or no nitrogen in the fertilizer. If they are 

 to be grown on soil containing no root tubercle organisms, they 

 require a fairly liberal application of a complete fertilizer. Xi 

 grown in good soil where root tubercles may be expected to 

 develop, only phosphoric acid and potash need be supplied in the 

 fertilizer. The soil should be prepared as for ordinary beans. 

 It should be made fine, free from clods and lumps, and smooth. 

 A good seed bed is essential to a good growth. 



In this climate the soy bean should be planted a little earlier 

 than ordinary beans, but not until the ground has warmed up 

 considerably. The first season we planted in drills 3 feet apart. 

 This was too far apart for the best yield. Nearly double the 

 yield per acre is obtained when the drills are 16 inches apart. 

 In the case of the wide drills it was necessary to cultivate three 

 times with the horse cultivator. With the drills 16 inches apart 

 they were cultivated once with a hand wheel hoe. On fairly 

 clean land good success may be had with broadcasting or still 

 better by the use of the grain drill. If planted in rows, the seed 

 should be sown with a hand seed drill similar to that used for 

 beets or turnips. It will require about 3 pecks of seed per acre 

 of the medium green soy bean when seeded in drills 16 inches 

 apart. If the seed is broadcast, a bushel will be none too much 

 for an acre. It will probably not be wise to attempt to grow 

 soy beans in Maine for the seed, but if this is done, the drills 



