LEGUMES FOR FOB AGE AND GRAIN 



307 



of them have been imported from the Orient and retain 

 their Oriental names. Others are named so as to indicate 

 the color of the grain and the length of season required 

 for growth. Thus we find such varieties as Early Yellow, 

 Medium Yellow, Medium Green, etc. There is a great 

 difference among the varieties in the amount of leaf and 

 stem growth, and also in the retention of leaves and the 



Fig. 112. — A field of soy beans. 



shattering of the grain. Certain varieties are, therefore, 

 well adapted for forage, while others may be better adapted 

 for the production of grain. 



312. Distribution and adaptation. — ■ While soy beans 

 have a rather wide distribution throughout the United 

 States, they are best adapted to a climate similar to that 

 required by corn. They do not grow well as far north as 

 the field bean grows, and in the South are largely replaced 

 by the cowpea. They are, therefore, principally grown in 



