1909.] 



The Soy Bean. 



735 



yielded over 2\ tons less to the acre, the deficiency being 

 about 3 tons in England and Wales, and about half-a-ton in 

 Scotland, but in the last country the crop of 1908 was also 

 just under the average. Permanent grass gave about 2J tons 

 per acre less than last season, and about 1 ton per acre less 

 than the average for 1899- 1908. 



The total production of hops was less than half that of 

 1908, and the yield per acre about two-thirds of the ten-year 

 average. This is partly due to the considerable reduction in 

 the acreage, for the yield per acre has on several occasions 

 been lower than in this season. 



The soy bean, which has recently come into prominence in 



this country as a feeding stuff, is a native of south-eastern 



„ „ Asia and has long been cultivated in 



The Soy Bean. ^ ■ t : 



China and Japan. It has also been 



introduced into India but is not very extensively grown. 



Production in Northern China. — The beans which have 

 been exported to the United Kingdom during the past year 

 have come from Manchuria through the ports of Dalny, 

 Vladivostock and Newchwang. There is no very precise 

 information as to the area under cultivation within reach of 

 the railways, but there is no doubt that the bean is largely 

 grown and, given sufficient inducement, a considerable 

 increase in the supply is likely to take place. 



The total production of beans in Southern Manchuria, 

 which is served by the ports of Dalny and Newchwang, is 

 stated to have been 580,000 tons in 1907, and 830,000 tons in 

 1908, while in Northern Manchuria the Vice-Consul reports 

 that the crop in 1908 probably amounted to 900,000 tons, and 

 the prospects for the crop in 1909 indicate a yield larger pos- 

 sibly by twenty per cent.* The beans from Northern Man- 

 churia come through Vladivostock. The spot prices in London 

 on November 25th were reported to be about £y 10s. a ton for 

 soy beans, and £6 12s. 6d. for soy bean cake. The contin- 

 ental demand is large. 



Composition of Soy Beans. — Yellow, green and black 

 beans are grown in China, and there are varieties of these, as 



* F. O. Reports, Annual Series, No. 4372 ; Board of Trade Journal, 

 August 12, 1909. 



