SB 205 
 .S7 U52 
 Copy 1 
 

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 M 
 
 DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR 120. 
 
 Contribution from tiie Bureau of Plant Industry 
 
 (New and Rare Seed Distribution), 
 
 VVM. A. TAYLOR, Chief. 
 
 SOY BEAN. 
 
 Object of the distridution. — The (listril)ulion of new aiifl rare seeds has for 
 its object the disseniination of new and rare crops, improved strains of staple 
 crops, and high-grade seed of crops new to sections where the data of tlie De- 
 partment indicate such crops to be of considerable promise. Each package 
 contains a snthcient quantity for a preliminary trial, and where it is at all 
 practicable the recipient is urged to use tlie seed for the production of stocks 
 for future plantings. It is believed that if this practice is followed consistently, 
 it will result in a material improvement in the crops of the country. Please 
 make, a full report on the inclosed blank regarding the results you obtain with 
 the seed. 
 
 DESCRIPTION. 
 
 The soy bean {Soja max)^ called also soja bean, Manchurian bean, 
 and stock pea (eastern North Carolina), is an erect, rather hairy, 
 leguminous plant, resembling somewhat in its early growth the 
 ordinary field or navy bean. It is a native of southeastern Asia and 
 is grown extensively in China and Japan, being used for human 
 food, for forage, and as a green manure. The soy bean is a valuable 
 crop in various ways and has many points of superiority over the 
 cowpea. The high jdeld of seed, the nutritious forage, the ease of 
 growing and harvesting, and the freedom from insect enemies and 
 plant diseases should encourage the planting of this crop. One of 
 its most common uses is for hay, which is comparable to alfalfa and 
 red clover in feeding value. The yield of hay is about equal to that 
 of the cowpea, or about 2 tons to the acre. As a pasture plant the 
 soy bean may be utilized to advantage for all kinds of stock, but 
 it is especially valuable for hogs, supplementing the corn ration. It 
 is also valuable as a soiling crop, yielding from 5 to 10 tons of green 
 forage to the acre. Good results have been obtained Avhere soy 
 beans and corn are mixed as ensilaga. The soy bean can be used to 
 advantage for green mamire, greatl}' increasing the supply of humus 
 and nitrogen of the soil. For a greater variety and larger yield of 
 forage it may be satisfactorily grown in combination wdth other 
 crops, such as cowpeas, sorghum, corn, and Sudan grass. The use 
 of the seed or meal as a substitute for cottonseed or oil meal in the 
 feeding ration has given excellent residts. Thus far, soy beans have 
 been a profitable crop to grow for seed. Under ordinary conditions 
 the best yarieties yield from 20 to 30 bushels to the acre. As a 
 human food the soy bean may be used as a green vegetable (when 
 the seed is about full grown), while the dried beans may be roasted 
 
 18G941°— 20 
 
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2 Department Cireular 120, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 
 
 as a substitute for coffee, in soups, or baked, and as flour or meal, 
 
 the same as corn meal. In addition to their fora^iie and food value, 
 
 soy beivns contain a valuable vefretable oil utilized in many trades. 
 
 The cake remainin<r after the oil is expressed is a valuable feed for 
 
 all kinils of live stock. 
 
 ADAPTATION. 
 
 The soy bean has a wide adaptation as regards soil and climatic 
 
 conditions. In <ji;eneral, the northern limit of its adaptation in the 
 
 United States may be said to be that of corn, and the southern limit 
 
 cotton. The soil requirements are quite similar to those of corn, 
 
 Kal)bits are exceedint^ly fond of the youn<; plants and sometimes 
 
 cause serious injury where the plat is sihall, especial!}' in the 
 
 semiarid regions. 
 
 INOCULATION. 
 
 Soy beans, like other legumes, Avhen well inoculated add much 
 nitrogen to the soil. Natural inoculation occurs quite generally 
 throughout the South. In isolated localities where this crop has not 
 been previously grown, some difliculty from lack of inoculation may 
 be expected. Northward and westward greater difficulty in, this re- 
 gard is experienced. The inoculation of a new field may be. secured 
 by mixing 1 gallon of soil from an old soy-bean field with a bushel 
 of seed, or with pure culture, which may be obtained from the United 
 States Department of Agriculture free of charge. 
 
 CULTURE. 
 
 The land should be thoroughly pre})are(l before seeding. If the soil 
 is loAv in fertility, phosphoric acid and potash should be applied to 
 obtain the best results. Soy beans may be sown at any time after 
 danger of severe frosts is over, ranging from early spring until mid- 
 sunnner. The general practice for seed production is j^lanting in 
 rows, 30 to 48 inches apart. For hay, soiling, or green manure, a 
 drilled or broadcasted crop furnishes a finer quality of forage. In 
 rows, from 20 to 80 pounds of seed to the acre are found satisfactory, 
 and if broadcast or drilled, 60 to 90 pounds. The ordinary grain drill 
 may be used in planting by covering the feed cups not in use, thus 
 spacing the rows as desired. The cotton planter or corn planter may 
 also be used. For small areas the ordinary garden drill does well. 
 The planting should be shallow, not exceeding 2 inches in depth. As 
 soon as the seedling plants a-ppear above the ground cultivation 
 should begin. Soy beans should receive at least three cultivations. 
 
 HARVESTING. 
 
 The time of harvesting depends on the use to be made of the crop. 
 Soy beans are best fitted for hay when the pods are well formed. 
 When grown for grain alone, the cutting" may be delayed in the case 
 of most varieties until all of the leaves bavei'allen. The early varie- 
 ties can best be harvested with a moAviji<jj lyaijiiaie or bean harvester. 
 
 i mvi^lONOFDOCUMWfJ 
 
' S 1 U S ^ Soy Bean. 3 
 
 The later and taller growing varieties can be harvested satisfactorily 
 with a self-rake reaper, a mowing machine, or a self-binder, the last 
 being the best for rather tall varieties. Special machines are now on 
 the market for harvesting the seed from the standing vines. 
 
 THRASHING. 
 
 Soy beans may be thrashed with an ordinary grain separator if run 
 at moderate speed and by removing some of the concaves. Special 
 bean and pea separators are now on the market and do very satis- 
 factory work. AV^ith small areas, soy beans may be cut or pulled, tied 
 in bundles, and flailed out when thoroughly dry. 
 
 STORING. 
 
 After thrashing, the beans should be spread out and not massed in 
 quantities. Soy beans will heat easily if not thoroughly dry, and 
 their ability to germinate will be ruined. 
 
 VARIETIES. 
 
 At. the present time about 15 varieties of soy beans are handled 
 commercially by seedsmen. More than 500 distinct varieties are 
 known and have been grown by the Department of Agriculture on its 
 testing grounds. Several of these have proved very promising in 
 diiferent sections of the country and are now on the market. Varie- 
 ties are largely distinguished by the color and size of seed, though 
 they diifer in maturity, habit of growth, etc. Following are notes on 
 the more important varieties. 
 
 Manmioth (seeds straw yellow). — This is the standard commercial 
 late variety, more extensively grown at the present time than any 
 other. The Mammoth yields well and is satisfactory for both grain 
 and forage. It can not be expected to mature north of Tennessee and 
 Virginia. 
 
 Haberlandt (seeds straw yellow). — This variety matures in about 
 120 days. The Haberlandt is most satisfactory for grain production, 
 but it is not especially desirable for hay. It is strongly recommended 
 where an earlier variety than the Mammoth is desired. 
 
 Mancliu (seeds straw yellow). — ^This variety was obtained from 
 northern Manchuria and matures in about 110 days. The Manchu 
 makes an excellent production of both forage and seed, excelling any 
 of the early varieties noAv on the market. It is especially adapted to 
 the Northern States. 
 
 Tokio (seeds olive yellow). — This variety is about a week earlier 
 than the Mammoth. The Tokio gives rather too stocky a growth 
 for desirable forage, but is most satisfactory for grain protluction. 
 Most excellent yields of grain have been obtained under ordinary 
 conditions in North Carolina and Tennessee. 
 
 Virginia (seeds brown). — A tall, slender variety, vining at the ter- 
 minal, and maturing in about 125 days. The Virginia on account of 
 its abundant growth and heavy yield of seed ma'^es a most excellent 
 forage variety. It is also recommended for hay and silage mixtures. 
 
4 Dcparlrncnl (liiciilar 120, U. S. Depl. of 
 
 000 930 740" 
 
 Jii(o,i'i (seeds brown). — A very late, coarse, bushy variely. ^irowin^ 
 from 4 to (') feet lii<2;h. It makes a very abundant growth and gives 
 a fair yiehl of seed. As the Biloxi reijuires a very long season for 
 maturity, it is only adapted to the southern part of the (iulf States 
 for seed. It is valuable for the rice lands as a green manure and is 
 also suitable for hay and silage. 
 
 liuvehct (seeds brown). ^This variety re(|uires a rather long sea- 
 son, maturing about 10 days later than the IManimoth. The Barchet 
 makes an excellent growth and is to be recommended for hay and 
 green manure in the Gulf States. 
 
 ^ViJson (seeds black). — An erect, slender variet;>% maturing in 
 about 120 days. The AVilson is considered o,ne of the best hay varie- 
 ties, making an excellent production of both forage and seed. 
 
 Fel'ing (seeds black). — This variety has small flat seeds and ma- 
 tures about the same as Haberlandt. The Peking not only gives a 
 good yield of grain, but is one of the most desirable for forage. 
 
 Black Eyehroio (seeda black and yellow). — This variety was ob- 
 tained from northern Manchuria and matures about the sartie as 
 Manchu. The Black Eyebrow is very satisfactory for both hay and 
 seed production. It is to be recommended as a grain variety for the 
 Northern States. 
 
 lldhto (seeds olive j'ellow). — A large, erect, bushy va"riety% pro- 
 ducing a large amount of seed and forage. The seed, when three- 
 fourths to full grown, makes an excellent green vegetable, similar to 
 the Lima bean. 
 
 /i'rt.sv/ Cook (seeds straw j^ellow). — This variety is a strong, vigor- 
 ous, bushy sort, maturing in about 130 days. It is very prolific, 
 producing also an abundance of forage. The mature beans are of 
 excellent quality, have a good flavor, and are easily cooked soft. The 
 beans can be used as a green vegetable, but their ug3 is recommended 
 as a dried bean on account of the ease of cooking. 
 
 Laredo (seeds black). — A variety maturing about the same time 
 as the Mannnotli YelloAv. It makes an abundance of fine forage 
 and is a good yielder of seed. The Laredo is highly resistant to wilt 
 and nematodes and is especially adapted to lands where these 
 troubles are prevalent. 
 
 Manddvln (seeds straw yellow). — An early-maturing variety ob- 
 tainied from Manchuria and found especially valuable as a grain 
 producer for northern conditions. It will mature farther north than 
 any variety now on the market. 
 
 PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 Farnnys' Bulletins 973 ("The Soy Bean: Its Culture and Uses") 
 and 8SG ("Harvesting Soy-Bean Seed"), giving more comi)lete 
 information concerning this crop, are available for free distribution 
 on api)licatiQn to the Secretary of Agriculture, ^^^^shiugtou, I). C. 
 
 Junk 8,1020. 
 
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