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ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



is to retain or increase the fertility of our soil while converting some of 

 the elements into valuable foods— peaches and cream, for instance. You 

 dairymen produce the golden butter; we the golden apple ■ (Grimes 

 Golden), and in doing so, remove very little fertility from 1 our farms. 



The Soy bean is a native of China, or some other of the far eastern 

 countries, where it has been grown for ages. The plant is stocky and 

 branching in growth, with numerous large leaves. The flower is small 

 and close to the stem of stalk and branch, where it is well protected from 

 unfavorable weather conditions by the dense foliage. 



The large main root penetrates deep into the soil, while numerous 

 rootlets fill the surface soil. The extensive root system with the nitro- 

 gen gathering bacteria makes it one of the most valuable plants for soil 

 renovation. 



To grow this crop, the ground should be well prepared. I prefer to 

 plow the ground some time before planting, and work it over with the 

 cultivator to produce a firm bed below with a loose surface on top. 



Although this crop will stand more unfavorable weather conditions 

 and produce more desirable returns for labor, etc., than the cow pea and 

 others of the bean family, it is better to wait until the ground is warm be- 

 fore planting, to insure quick germination of the seed. 



If grown for seed, plant in rows 34 inches apart more or less as it is 

 more convenient; cultivate until the plants shade the ground. "When 

 the leaves and pods begin to turn yellow, the crop should be cut. After 

 wilting, put in small shocks until well cured. Then they are ready to 

 thresh or haul into the barn. The seed is very liable to heat when stored 

 in bulk, and for that reason it is difficult to keep it from one season to 

 another. 



The seed is very rich in protein; equal to oil meal in that respect. 

 When grown on land that will produce 50 bushels of corn, the SOy bean 

 should yield 35 to 40 bushels of se ed, which I think is the/ cheapest way to 

 obtain protein. A bushel containing as much of that element as three 

 bushels of corn, or, in other words, 50 bushels of corn contains about 420 

 lbs. of protein, and 35 bushels of Soy beans contains about 714 lbs,; a 



