A. H. Hoffman, Inc., Seedsmen, Landisville, Lancaster Co., Pa. 23 
Soy Beans 
HOW TO GROW SOY BEANS 
Growing Soys needs little more attention than growing the 
old standard crops and not nearly as diiBcxilt to grow as Alfalfa. 
We give the following directions: 
1. PREPARE YOUR SOIL WELL— just as you should 
for corn. Try to kill the weeds — especially if you are going to 
broadcast instead of plant in rows. Frequent cultivation in 
advance of planting season will accomplish weed killing. 
2. DON'T PLANT TOO EARLY. The soil must be warm. 
A week or ten days after ideal conditions for corn is usually the 
safe time. Soys will rot in cold, wet soil, but will grow quickly 
in a warm seed bed. Planting Soys is permissible until early 
July, other conditions being favorable. 
3. DON'T PLANT DEEP. 1^ inches is nearer right than 
any other depth. One inch may do and two inches does not 
mean failure. 
4. INOCULATION. To get the full benefit from growing 
Soy Beans you must inoculate the seed. The gathering of nitro- 
gen from the air by the roots will not take place unless you 
supply the germ to start the action. Soil from another Soy 
Bean field may be used. It is, however, most certain and more 
economical to use commercial inoculation for the purpose. We 
believe "Farmogerm" to be the best inoculation in the market 
and we highly recommend it. See page 32. "Farmogerm" is 
applied right to the seed before it is planted. It takes only a few 
minutes and the process is simple. The nitrogen gathered from 
the air and deposited in the soil in excess of the plant's require- 
ment is worth every bit of expense connected with growing Soy 
Beans, so that the top growth of hay and beans with their high 
percentages of protein is clear profit. 
5. PLANT EITHER IN ROWS OR BROADCAST. If you broadcast by hand and work 
in with a harrow, l"/2 bushels' are required. If drilled in with a drill with all holes open,. 1J4 
bushels are sufficient. You must be sure to kill weeds ahead of planting time if you broadcast. 
As a rule, planting in rows is preferable, whether you want to grow the beans or produce hay, 
green fodder, silage, or if you want to turn under for soil improvement. Planting in rows saves 
seed and permits cultivation. You will have to cultivate as often as you do corn. Plantings are 
made with rows 20 to 36 inches apart and two to three inches apart on the row. Twenty to 
thirty pounds per acre needed by this method, depending upon exact width of rows apart and 
upon size of variety of Soy. The most successful Soy men we know grow in rows as close as 
twenty inches apart. You must plan your method of cultivation in connection with width of rows. 
6. HOW TO PLANT THEM. Nearly every 
corn planter can be adapted to plant Soys by getting 
a special disc. Grain drills, however, are used more 
frequently. A nine-hole or a twelve-hole can easily 
be adapted for rapid work by plugging two out of 
every three holes. A nine-hole drill will plant three 
rows at a time. A twelve-hole drill will plant four 
rows at a time. 
7. HARVESTING. To make good Soy Bean 
hay — cut when half the pods are full grown and 
when top leaves begin to turn yellow. Cut them 
when there is no dew. Let lie in swaths until leaves 
are wilted but not brittle. Rake early in windrows 
but let them thoroughly cure for several days. 
Then put them in small cocks and allow several 
more days. Prevent loss of leaves as far as pos- 
sible. 
8. FOR BEANS. Let stand until half of the 
pods arc dry and most of the leaves have fallen 
off. Same may then be handlc.d as advised above 
for hay. The old self rake is used by some for 
cutting. It gathers the stalks in convenient open 
ljunches and permits gathering with but a slight loss 
from shattering. Haul to the barn or stack. 
9. THRESHING. This may be done by flail 
or by grain threshers. If the Soy Beans are for 
seed, care must be taken not to crack or split them. 
The removal of the concaves in the grain threshers 
is necessary. 
Varieties of Soy Beans described on next pages. 
Field of Wilson Black Soy Beans 
