310 FIELD CROP PRODUCTION 



roots and stubble of red clover. Soy beans, however, 

 have the advantage of making their growth in a com- 

 paratively short period of time. 



315. Cultural methods. — The bacteria that form the 

 nodules on the roots of the soy beans are not so generally 

 distributed as those that work on the roots of the clover. 

 In many cases, especially in sections where the crop is 

 new, it is desirable to inoculate the soil. If the land has 

 not previously grown the crop, usually but few nodules 

 will be produced the first year without inoculation, and 

 the crop will have to make its growth from the nitrogen 

 in the soil. It is especially desirable to inoculate soils 

 that are low in nitrogen. If the crop is grown without 

 inoculation on the same field for two or three years, the 

 soil will usually become inoculated from the few bacteria 

 that may be carried to the field with the seed, which 

 will multiply to a sufficient extent to effect the inoculation 

 of the entire field. Ordinarily no fertilizer is applied to 

 the soil for the growing of soy beans, although it maybe 

 profitable to treat poor soil with barnyard manure or 

 mineral fertilizers. The seed bed required for soy beans 

 is similar to that required for corn. 



316. Seeding. — Soy beans should not be seeded until 

 rather late in the season after the danger from frost is 

 past, and the soil is well warmed up. In most places, 

 this will be about the time corn planting is finished. The 

 rate of seeding will depend upon the use to be made of 

 the crop. If it is grown for the grain, the usual method 

 is to seed in rows 28 to 30 inches apart, using about 3 

 pecks of seed per acre. If grown for forage, the largest 

 yield and the best quality of hay, on account of the fine- 

 ness of the stems, may be obtained when the seed is drilled 

 close at the rate of 6 to 8 pecks per acre, the exact rate 



