'BULLETIN No. 203 November, Nvme,11 1918 ALABAMA Agricultural. Experiment Station OF THE Alabama Polytechnic Institute AUBURN Soy.Beans inAlabama By E.: 'F. GAUTHEN 1918 Post Publishing Opelika, ConmpanyAla. STATION STAFF C. C. THACH, President of the College HORTICULTURE: J. F. DUGGAR, Director of Experiment Station and Extension AGRICULTURE: J. F. Duggar, Agriculturist. E. F. Cauthen, Agriculturist. M. J. Funchess, Associate. J. T. Williamson, Field Agt., H. B. Tisdale, Associate Plant ,Breeder. 0. H. Sellers, Assistant. M. H. Pearson, Assistant. VETERINARY G. C. Starcher, Horticulturist. J. C. C. Price, Associate. C. L. Isbell, Associate. ENTOMOLOGY: SCIENCE: C. A. Cary, Veterinarian. CHEMISTRY : W. E. Hinds, Entomologist, F. L. Thomas, Assistant. J. M. Robinson, Assistant.. B. B. Ross, Chemist. E. R. Miller, Chemist Soils and Crops. C. L. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY: Animall Hare,-- Physiological Chemist. BOTANY: hG. S. Temlpeton, W. A. Gardner, Botanist. Robert Stratton, Assistant. PLANT Husbandman. E. Gibbens, Assistant. G. L. Burleson, Assistant. F. W. Burns, Assistant. AGHICULTURALEDITOR: PATHOLOGY: G. L. Peltier, Plant''Pathologist. Leslie L. Gilbert. CONTENTS PAAGE 'Summary- - _89 - Introduction ;- - - -- -- - - -- - - Climate andsoil requiremenets ---Fertilizers : Acid phosphate - - -_92 _92 - Acid !Cropping and kainit for hay - --------93 94 phosphate, kainit, cotton seed meal, etc., for~ seed and hay -------- ---- ----- Acid phosphate vs. raw phosphate in seed production 95 Acid phosphate vs. raw phosphate in hay production 95 Inoculation-96 systems - - - -- -- -- - -- -97 Culture-97 Preparation of soil ---98 - Planting Rate of seeding __Tillage ----- ------ 98 ------------- 98 99 Harvesting Thrashing and straw - -- - - - - ----- - - - - - - - storing seed ________ --- 99 _10 Variety tests. for seed _ _ _ _---_ Soy Soy bean rests Variety for seed and oil - --------------104 - --- --- - --- - - - -106 -- -- - _ __ _ _ _101 --- -- 103 -- bean hay - - - - -= - Variety tests for hay Mixtures - ----- --107 -------109 Rate of seeding for hay ----- - - - - - - --- - 108 -- of soy beans and cowpeas for-hay Heavy seeded mixtures __________110 Light, seeded mixtures ____ __ _ _______112 Soy bean as Fertilizing a soil improving crop effect on cotton Comparative- yields - - -- -- -- -- - -- -116 on=------------------------L-117 ------------- 115 118 ------ 120 Enemies of the soy bean ------------------------------- IBrief description of leading varieties - - __-- ---- \l~uuli),~lo\v 5 v c:1F in IlIi t i t 1 .tI f 1lI SOY BEANS IN ALABAMA BY E. F. CAUTHEN SUMMARY The soy bean is a leguminous crop that is well adapted to many parts of Alabama. In a fertilizer test on sandy land, for the production} of hay, acid phosphate applied at the rate of 240 pounds per acre gave an average increase in yield of 504 pounds, and kainit applied at the same rate gave no increase. When 48 pounds of nitrate of soda was added.to 240 pounds of acid phosphate and 240 pounds of kainit, neither'the nitrate of soda norkainit gave any increase in yield of hay. In the production- of grain neither acid phosphate, potash, nor nitrate of soda gave appreciable increases. On poor soil cotton seed meal gave sufficient increase to justify its use. Lime gave some increase. In a comparison of acid phosphate and raw phosphate on seed production, the gain from the use of 320 pounds of acid phosphate per acre was .5 bushel, and from the use of 320 pbunds of rock phosphate was 1.2 bushels. When similar amounts of acid phosphate and rock phosphate were used for hay production, the gain from the acid phosphate was 323 pounds of hay per acre and from the rock phosphate 243 pounds. Experiments with disinfected seed planted on soil where soy beans had not been grown for many years and where beans had never been grown gave some inoculated plants. When disinfected seed were planted on land well supplied with barnyard manure, the plants bore many nodules the first year. The largest yield of seed and straw came from drilling five pecks per acre. The yield of grain from three pecks was nearly as great as from five pecks. The plants of the Mammoth Yellow variety in thick seeded plots stood up better than those of the thin seeded plots. - Variety tests conducted for the past 11 years show that Blackbeauty stood at the head in seed production three years; Haberlandt two years; Mammoth Yellow, Sherwood, Tokyo, Hollybrook, and Biloxi one year each. During this 11 year. period the four most pro 90 -ductive varieties of each year included Mammoth Yellow seven times; Blackbeauty and Hollybrook each five times; Edward, Haberlandt, Ebony, and Wilson each three times; Baird, Acme, Shanghai, and Swan each times; Flat King, Peking, Sherwood, Virginia, Biloxi, and Otootan each one time. The varieties leading in production of seed have coarse, erect stems and require from 115 to 135 days to mature seed. The early varieties never ranked high in seed or hay production. The percentage of straw to grain differs with different varieties. Blackbeauty averaged 42 per cent of grain; Hollybrook, 40 per cent; Ebony, 38 per cent; Mammoth Yellow, 34 per cent; Biloxi, 29 per cent; Otootan, 26 per cent, and Barchet, only 18 per cent. In 1917 in co-operation with the U. S. Department of Agriculture, 41 varieties and strains were grown, 28 of which yielded 50 per cent less grain than Mammoth Yellow, and none of which equalled it. The varieties differed widely in per cent of fa't and protein-there being 10 per cent between the highest and lowest yielding varieties. Soy beans make excellent hay and are easily cured. In a test of 10 varieties the average yield of hay ranged from 2332 pounds per acre to 5658 pounds: They required from 85 to 112 days from date of planting to date of mowing. The late varieties made the largest tonnage. Mammoth Yellow and Biloxi are erect and make a somewhat woody hay. Some of the varieties like Ebony, Hollybrook, Wilson; and Otootan have an abundance of leaves and produce a good quality of hay. The rate of seeding for hay of the Mammoth Yellow variety giving the largest tonnage was 45 pounds per acre drilled in 21/ foot rows. The thicker seeding gave a better quality of hay, having less coarse, woody stems. Soy beans and cowpeas mixed at the rate of five pecks each and seeded broadcast produced an average of about 11/4 tons of excellent hay. The amount of hay was not greatly increased by combining the two legumes, though its quality and ease of curing were increased. When the rate of seeding was reduced from five pecks to 48 pounds per acre and sown broadcast, the yield was not reduced; but when the soy beans were seeded alone at the rate of 64 pounds per acre, the -two 91 yield of hay was about half that from the cowpeas when seeded alone. The soy bean as a soil improving crop is shown by comparing the fertilizing effect of soy beans, cowpeas and corn on a following cotton crop. The average yield of seed cotton following corn was 1141 pounds; following cowpeas 1426 pounds; and following soy beans 1459 pounds. The increase due to the fertilizing effect of the cowpeas was 285 pounds seed cotton, and of the soy beans 318 pounds. If the value of the seed cotton is reckoned at 4 cents per pound, the fertilizing effect of the cowpeas would be $11.40 per acre; and of the soy beans $12.72. The fertilizing effect of soy beans on a following hay crop is shown when a comparison is made of the yields of hay grown on corn lands, cowpea land and soy bean land. The average yields of hay made from a mixture of Red Rust Proof oats and Crimson Clover, from Blue Stem Wheat and Crimson Clover, and from Crimson Clover alone was 4249 pounds per acre when they followed soy beans; 4268 pounds per acre when they followed cowpeas; and only 3391 pounds after corn. The increase due to the fertilizing effect of soy beans was 858 pounds of hay, and of cowpeas 877 pounds. If the value of the hay is reckoned at $15 a ton, the fertilizing effect of the soy beans over the corn was $6.43 per acre, and of the cowpeas over the corn was $6.56. In a comparison the fertilizing effect of a crop of corn and of soy beans on a following winter oat crop the increased yield of the soy bean land over corn land was 173 per cent. The comparative average yield of corn, cowpea and soy bean grain based on an eight year period was 1677 pounds of corn, 611 pounds of cowpeas. and 721 pounds of soy beans. * The most common enemies to the soy bean are rabbits, nematodes, wilt, and root-rot. A brief description of leading varieties is given. 92 SOY BEANS IN ALABAMA INTRODUCTION The soy bean, sometimes called "soya" or "soja'.' bean, is becoming an important crop in Alabama. It has been grown mostly in small patches; but since many farmers have become acquainted with its merits, it is becoming a field crop, and its acreage is rapidly increasing. The increasing interest in soy beans is due largely to a changed system of cotton farming made necessary by the invasion of the boll weevil, and to the discovery of many uses for the bean and its products. In looking for crops that can partly take the place of cotton, the farmer has found that the soy bean and the peanut fills the place to a considerable extent. The livestock farmer and feeder desires crops that can to some extent take the place of corn and expensive mill feeds. The soy bean and its products are meeting ithose needs. The bean is being used also for human food. These, with other uses, have caused the price of the bean to advance in the past three years over 100 per cent. It seems safe to predict that the price will continue to be profitable, and that the growing of soy beans in those sections where they are well adapted will eventually become a prominent part of Alabama's cropping system. CLIMATE AND SOIL REQUIREMENTS The soy bean is adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of Alabama. Any land that will grow good crops of corn and cotton will produce good crops of soy beans;, but poor soil will not produce a profitable yield. The best soil is a clay loam or clay, well supplied with humus. Soy beans resist drought and excessive rain better than corn. On heavy land they make a better crop than either cowpeas or peanuts. For the Coastal Plain -ection of the State the peanut is probably a better paying crop than the soy bean, but for the Black Belt, Piedmont and Tennessee Valley sections the soy bean is probably a more profitable crop. The Mammoth Yellow variety does well in all these sections where the soil is not too poor. In extremely fertile valleys the plants grow large and do not yield seed in proportion to size of plants. 93 FERTILIZERS FOR Soy BEANS In 1904 and 1906 fertilizer tests were made by Professor J. F. Duggar on sandy loam to determine value of phosphoric acid, potash, and nitrogen on soy beans. The 1904 test followed an experiment in crimson clover which failed. The 1906 test (A) followed crimson clover cut for hay, and test (B) followed crop of peanuts. The beans were planted about-May 20, and mowed for hay about September 10. TABLE I. Fertilizer Test for Hay Used Per Acre. the a Yield of Soy Bean Hay When the Following Fertilizer Was 4-1~ YEARS ~ oCo o O C C CI c, "r g o 1904 _____ Lbs. 2240 Lbs. 1840 Lbs. 2320 Lbs. 2800 Lbs. 2569 1906 (A) __ 1906 (B)Average increase - 4232 5232 504 3296 4702 4128 4752326 4528 4320 486 4080 3552 _o -118 From the yield of hay in the three experiments recorded in Table I, acid phosphate gave an average crease When of 504 pounds, the no appreciable increase attributable to the kainit was. secured. From the addition of 48 pounds of nitrateof soda to kainit and acid phosphate, no increase attributable to either potash or nitrate of soda potash -and potash- gave no with increase.- in-- was combined acid phosphate,- secured. In the above experiments acid phosphate was, the only fertilizer that paidl for its use. When the amount of acid phosphate in combination with the 240 pounds of kainit per acre was doubled, the increased yield of hay due to the phosphate was slightly more than double;. but when the amount of kainit with 240 pounds of acid phosphate was doubled. the increased yield due ,to potash was negligible. FERTILIZER TEST FOR SEED AND HAY The experimuents recorded in Table II show in. a, general way the effects of fertilizing elements on was soy- 94 beans. The test of 1917 was made on a poor, deep, sandy soil, the fertility of which gradually increased frdm one side of the experiment to the other, is shown gradual increase in yield of the check 'plots. The 1918 test was on a fertile, loamy and followed a heavy crop of crimson clover plowed under in March for soil improvement. The fertilizer, except lime, was applied in the drill at planting time and mixed with ' the soil.' The lime was scattered broadcast over the plot and harrowed in the by :the as soil surface. TABLE II. The Yield of Soy Bean Seed, Strawn and Hat from the Use of Different Kinds Fertilizers of FERTILIZER N -. 1917 G) }+ 1918 ) KIND OF aFERTILIZER Lb 2-7 0o 27 o 05)0a V) o 2C o Lbs. 1 00 No fertilizer---- Bu. 2 3 4 5 6 240 200 200 100 2000 Acid phosphate--_0.9 Kainit _--_-10.0 Cotton seed meal 13.9 Nitrate of soda _9.4 Slacked lime 6.7 Lbs. 787 Bu. 20.8 Lbs. 2424 Lbs. 5112 763 1017 1411 960 1286 7 00 8 240 200 9. 240 200 200 2000 240 No fertilizer--_ Acid phospbate._1 Kainit._ _ _- Acid phosphate Cotton seed meal 1 Kainit- --7 21.6 17.2 20.4 21.5 25.6 2oo4 2736 2208 2520 2688 5088 4440 4224 4944 4752 11.7 11.7 9.6 15.2 17.3 1228 1152 1488 23.623.2 19.2 20.4 2724 2688 2736 2232 4800 4848 4320 3984 105 11 12 200 Cotton seed meal Fine ground Basic slag ---- 1555 1853 stone---- 13 00 No fertilizer-'_-- ---- lime- 21.5 18.8 2484 4512 19.7 2203 21.2 2400 4680 19.7 1929 18.6 2208 4800 Lime gave a small increase in grain ; of the two forms of lime, (slacked and fine ground limestone) the former gave tile better results.. Acid phosphate, kainit and Nitrate of soda gave' 110 appreciable increase. On poor soil cottonseed mel increased the yield of grain sufficient to more thanl pay for its cost. The large yield of grain, straw and hay in the 1918 test was due largely to tile favorable seasons and the heav y cover crop of crimson clover plowed under in the spring for soil improvement. 95 ACID PHOSPHATE VERSUS RAW PHOSPHATE In Table III is found a comparison of the effect of acid phosphate and raw phosphate (finely ground untreated phosphate rock) on the production of soy bean seed. The experiment was conducted on a strong red soil. The plots received the same amount of fertilizer in the fall when they were planted in oats. When the oats were harvested in the spring, the land was plowed and fertilized again at the rate indicated in the table, and planted in soy beans. The low yield of beans is largely due to the late planting. TABLE III.-The Yield of Soy Bean Seed Per Acre from the Use of Acid Phosphate and Raw Phosphate Rate per acre 7:1 Bu. Bu. Bu. 5.5 7.2 5.3 8.3 7.0 Acid Phosphate 320 lbs. No Phosphate Bu. Bu. 6.7 7.9 Bu. Bu. 9.6 9.9 Bu. Bu. 7.6 8.3 Raw Phosphate 320 lbs.. . 1 8.5 4.5 110.7 4.8 11.3 4.9 9.7 7.4 8.5 .8 1.7 5.9 19.1 5.91 6.8 From the application of 320 pounds of acid phosphate per acre, the average gain was only .8 bushels, and from the same amount of rock phosphate the average gain was 1.7 bushels. TABLE IV.-The Yield of Soy Bean Hay Per Acre from the Use of Acid Phosphate and Raw Phosphate Rate per acre 0 o Lbs. o Lbs. 2256 2192 Lbs. 1676 1613 y I Acid Phosphate 320 lbs. __2832 Raw Phosphate 320 lbs. 2720 No Phosphate -- 2800 Lbs. 2255 2175 1648 Lbs. 323 243 1348 | 1932 The yield of hay as a result of fertilizing with acid phosphate and rock phosphate is shown in Table IV. This experiment was conducted on the same land and followed the same plan as that reported in Table III. The average increase from the use of 320 pounds of acid phosphate per acre was 323 pounds of hay and from a sinmilar' amount ot raw pho1sphla te .213 hounds. In this expecrimnlt the acidl phIosphate provI\ed slightly better fertilizer than rock phlosphateI. Nci therI'cFrtil izer, howevxer, gave a mfarkedl incrca se iln yield. I NO C ULATiIN Tihe sov beanl like othier legumles has the ability to utilize a tmlosphelric nitrogen lii rough the acti101 of bactLeria which live onl its roots. Thicsc 1)cteia (levelop) tuibercles oil the - roots of tile plants. It' there ar 11tuibercles ne present and the plants are pale green, it is ani indication that iiioctilalion is lack~ing or (delicienit. INOUATO h IXF11-L~ 192 in1ocu~lationi much Is Nvcre madt eXperi/ 7 // / / in~ pois b~y \. use of soil fromi fields whe1cre sov 11(a1s had( not bletn growil celnt soluitioin of formnalin, cer-. fain h~ots w tie lplanltedt .Juni , . August 12, Iper 61 ceint of \\ c11 111ou(ldf Planit iln tow Ilt and( imatai soil. 'Wit (isiniifec led seed di plan led iln soil1 fertIiliz~ed with cow mnulre, 1I1 pe cHnt of 1111 plaints slim ((I iinociulation. In 190.3 simlilar teI'iInlelts were m~adle, uingI soil oin Whlichl 110 egililes 11ad bIefn grown forti six vias. Thle p~lanlts blore mltyIP nodules. Ini olne set (It pots tile soil w\as filled; in alnotlhtr set it was not limled. Ini Ihos pots5 limled the plantls bore more tuibercles 111an fthose planlted ini Ihhliille pots. l I later yearis bthI disinfected ac(1 inlocuil ted stted was p 1)81tedl on1 land( where 1n0 soy beans had ever growni. WhIerever tubercles were found. they were 0111111 on p~la 11ts from both (disinfeected and inocula tedl seed alike. La(d 1118t Imas Ibeenl well fertilized with barn'fyard'( manurt~e or' is ntrlyftile and1 lanfted with seed 1harvxestedt in tile ordinary manner~fl will )poba~bly nceed inlocultliion, as there mnay b~e sufficient n(1 a etiliciai bacteria oin the seedl to inoculate tihe "L'owing~ plants. It' the land lacks humus or is poor1, artificial inoculation mnay prve~ benieficial and shIould( be (lone either before or at plantinlg time. Inoculation of seed lmay be (lone either iby scattering in tihe (11i11 with tihe seedl inoculatedl soil from a so- or by lihe use of bacterial cultures. Soy' beaniifield, mnay beC obtainedl from commercial comnbean icuiltures panics or from the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Office of Soil Bacteriology, Washington, D. C. Thec latter \vill furnish any farmer enough to inoculate two acres. Instructions how to use the cultures usuallCROPPINGt Sx'SmmEzNs Thie growVing of soy beans fits well into many or tihe Croppl~ing systems emp~loyedl ini the Cotton Belt. As a grinl crop they mayU occuply somle of tihe land formerly pian ited ini cotton or' corn. When winter oats andl wheat are ha rvestedI inl timiie to allow tihe stuibble to lbe plowed. it iliay be planlited inl beansfl, ei ther 'for seed1, hay, or' g ran img. A Row of Soy Beans Growing in a Six Foot Corn Mbiddle. Beans are Easily Cultivated and Do Not Seem to Reduce the Yield of Corn. The 98 In the sections where many hogs are raised and the fields fenced for pasturing, the corn rows may be made six feet wide and a row of beans planted in the middle thus forming alternate rows of corn and beans. Both crops may be "hogged off." Where the bean harvester is employed, it will harvest the soy beans without damage to the standing corn. PREPARATION OF LAND FOR Soy BEANS The land for soy beans may be prepared as for cotton. It should be plowed in the early spring and harrowed once or twice before planting to destroy weeds and clods and to make a good seed bed. Where the land is smooth and well drained, the rows can be laid off and the beans planted on a level. Stubble land should be plowed as soon as the grain is removed and the seed planted in moist soil either on a low bed or in drill slightly below the surface. PLANTING Soy BEANS Soy beans may be planted any time from April 15 to July 15. Prompt germination is important, and to secure it, the seed should not be planted when the soil is very cold, wet or dry. Conditions favorable to germination and growth of cowpeas are suitable for soy beans. When grown for seed purposes, they should be planted in rows from 30 to 36 inches wide. The seed may be planted by hand or by the use of a grain drill or planter equipped with proper plates. The seed should be covered not more than 2 or 3 inches deep. RATE OF SEEDING Table V. gives the rate of seeding the Mammoth Yellow variety for grain. The 1917 test was planted on gravely loam soil. The stand of plants in both tests was almost perfect. In the latter test the beans were over-ripe when they were harvested and sustained an, estimated loss of 5 per cent from shattering. 99 TABLE V. Rate of Seeding Mammoth Beans for Grain 1917 Amount of seed planted 1918 Yellow Averages Soy C , Bu. 14.6 15.5 18.7 per acre Lbs. 2684 2926 3520 1 peck 2 pecks- ---3 pecks Bu. 7.5 8.6 9.1 Lbs. 2924 2809 2784 Bu. 11.1 12.1 13.9 Lbs. 2804 2867 3152 4 pecks 5 pecks 16.7 17.2 3432 3630 10.2 10.9 2425 2803 13.5 14.1 2928 3216 The maximum average yield of grain and of straw came from seediiig five pecks per acre. It is noticed that the yield of grain from three pecks was greater than from four pecks and nearly as much as from five pecks per acre. The usual rate when drilled and cultivated for grain is from two to three pecks per acre. The plants of the thick seeded plots stood up better, than those of the thin seeded plots. This is.an important consideration if the seed is harvested with machinery. When soy beans alone are sown broadcast for hay, the usual rate of seeding is from one to two bushels per acre; when they are sown in combination with cowpeas the usual rate is one bushel of peas and one of beans. From the experiments that are recorded on page 111 the yield of hay can be increased, and its quality greatly improved by increasing the above rate of seeding. TILLAGE The same implements used for cultivation of cotton can be used for cultivating soy beans. If the rows are uniform in width, a "Gee Whiz" cultivator may be used to make one trip to the middle while the plants are small; later cultivations can be made with scooter and scrape. The crop should receive frequent shallow cultivation till the plants begin to bloom. HARVESTING Soy BEANS The time to cut for seed is when most pods are ripe and some leaves have fallen, just before the pods begin to burst and scatter the beans on the ground. If the pods are left on the plants to get completely ripe, the 100 seed shatter badly when harvested with binder or rmnower; but if the seed is to be harvested with a special soy :bean harvester, the plants should stand until the ,pods become thoroughly ripe. When only a patch is planted, the plants can be cut with a corn knife or sharp hoe, or pulled up, and cured in small piles and thrashed out with a flail. Where several acres are grown, they may be cut with a mower, self rake reaper, or binder, and raked or dumped into small piles to cure. As soon as they are cured, they :should be put under a shed or thrashed. The special bean harvester, of which there are severkinds now in use, has revolving arms working in a large box, which is mounted on wheels and drawn by two horses. While the machine is passing over a row, the revolving arms strike the plants and knock out the ripe beans, which are caught in the box. A team and two men harvest about five or six acres a day. The harvester is not started in the morning until after the dew dries off. When such a machine is used, probably 20 per cent of the crop is shattered on the ground, or is left on the plants. When such is the case, hogs should _be _permitted to run in the fields and gather them. l-a7 THRASHING AND STORING SEED Where the acreage is small, the plants may be spread on a floor or wagon sheet to dry, after which they can be beaten out with a flail. Soy beans can be thrashed with an ordinary grain thrasher, if the speed of the cylinder is reduced to about half of that for grain (about 300 revolutions per minute) and some of the spikes removed from the concave. The slowing down of the cylinder may be secured by building up the diameter of the drive pulley. If the speed is not reduced, many seed will be lost. The other parts of the separator must run at the normal speed, otherwise straw and chaff will clog the shaker and beater, and poor separation will result. If the thrashed beans are stored damp or in a damp place, they will heat and become unfit for planting. By putting them in bags and piling the bags in such a way that good ventilation is secured, they may be kept without much injury for one or two years. However, long storing reduces their percentage of germination and a germination test of old seed should be made before planting them. 101 VARIETY TESTS FOR SEED Up to the present time the Experiment Station has tested 30 different varieties or strains for seed production. Much larger numbers have been grown for observation purposes. Most of ,the varieties have been furnished by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Many of them did not offer any great promise for this locality and were dropped after being tested one or two years. In the table below is given the results of the variety test for 11 years. Some varieties only one year; others like Mammoth Yellow and Ebony, which were more promising, were included almost every year. No column of average yield is made, because many varieties were not planted every year, and obviously it would be unfair to average and compare varieties grown in different years. However, a variety may be compared with any other variety grown in the same year. In the variety tests the beans were usually planted on one-thirty second acre plots, in rows three feet wide, sowed by hand and thinned to a uniform stand of three or four plants per foot. Each plot received frequent shallow cultivation until the pods began to appear. A study of the table shows that no one variety has stood at the head of the list for all years. Variations in soils and seasons from year to year produce fluctuations in yield of a variety. During the 11 year period Blackbeauty stood at the head three years in production of seed; Haberlandt, two years; Mammoth Yellow, Sherwood, Tokyo, Hollybrook and Biloxi one year each. During the 11 year period the four most productive varieties for seed of each year included Mammoth Yellow seven times; Blackbeauty five times; Hollybrook five times; Edward, Haberlandt, Ebony and Wilson each three times; Baird, Acme, Shanghai, and Swan each two times; Flat King, Peking, Sherwood, Virginia, Biloxi and Otootan each one time. TABLE VL- Yields of Grain of Different Varieties Varieties Acme 14954 Arlington 22899 Austin 17263 Biloxi 125 Baird 22333 Barchet 23232 Blackbeauty Ebony 17254 Edward 14953 Flat King 17252 Hollybrook Haberlandt---------------Ito San 186 Mammoth Yellow Lbs. of straw per acre I190811909119101191111912119131191411915119161191711918 1191711918 I----112.5 ---- ---- I---- 5.2 12.0 1 8.0 --- -- -- -- ----2.4 3.2 6.6 10.9 12.7 16 8 0 k1160 ---I 5.1 8.8 11.218.6 -- - - - -- - - - -- - - - 15.0 22.5 - - - - 9.8 9.6 X14.6 -1 4.6-------------------901. 9.7 - Yield of seed per acre (bushels) ---ira. 1 - 111.3 -- - 5.4 72 ---9.1 17278 9.6 .14.3 15.3 9.6I8.9112.4114.2 11.2 18.5--10.G 9. 1 9.0 10.2 7.3 1 13.3 23.5 11.6 16.0 4.4 4.0 16.0 1320 1160 5.2 10.3 11.6 15.3 16.3 1722 1425 19.4 '15.5 5.2 9.4 16.2--------.2400 185 21.5 4.8 10.3 12.9 26.0 20.8 S__I11.3 ---- 12.6 16.6 118.3 12.3-9.9 1422 --9.2 10.6 _17.8 5.4 13.4 11.5 19.3 18.0 2283 2162 Medium Green 92- 17.0 Medium Yellow Morse 19186 Otootan -----------------------6.3 7 ---------------- .0 1728 -- Peking -- -- - -- -- 20797------14952 Peking Rueland 17852-------152 ________ .- 1----54 Shanghai -----Sherwood 17862 -----Swan 22379 -------Tar Heel - - - - - - - - Tokyo 17267 -------- 1 1 . -- 2-----8 ----30---- 2. 54 2 1 -5.6 8.9 -- -.8 A 1.401806 9 ---------- I-- -I---l------------------. -150 0---9.7 155.5 36I 97-- 153------ . 5.6 7.215.0---21.3 --1145211480 127 Wilson (black.) 19183 Wilson (yellow)-----Virginia 32906------- Chinese 20797_______ 103 The list of productive varieties is rather long, and the matter of making a choice of a variety by the beginner may be confusing. He will make no mistake in choosing for this latitude the Mammoth Yellow, which is a rank growing variety and produces yellow seed. It requires about 135 days to mature a crop of seed. Hollybrook produces a smaller plant, has smaller yellow seed, and requires about 10 days less than Mammoth Yellow to mature its seed. Blackbeauty is very much like Hollybrook, except in color of seed, which is black. The varieties which lead in seed production have rather coarse, erect stems and are medium late. The early varieties never rank high in seed production; nor are they well suited for hay. When it is desired to get an early crop for grazing purposes, Ito San, Swan, Sherwood and other early varieties described in Table VII. may be planted. They will bridge over the period till the later varieties like Mammoth Yellow, Hollybrook and Blackbeauty, etc., are ready for grazing. Soy BEAN STRAW The percentage of straw to grain differs with different varieties. In 1917 and 1918 Mammoth Yellow averaged 66 per cent of straw, and Otootan averaged 74 per cent. The dwarf varieties have a lower percentage of straw than those that have a tendency to form a semi-vine upwright growth. Blackbeauty averaged for two years 42 per cent of grain; Hollybrook, 40 per cent; Ebony, 38 per cent; Biloxi, 29.5 per cent; and Barchet (an upright vine-like variety) only 18 per cent. The amount of strav from each variety is not in proportion to yield of grain. The percentage of straw depends upon the habit of growth of the variety-the late vine-like varieties yielding the highest percentages and the largest amounts per acre. In 1917 and 1918 the variety tests were planted on fertile sandy soil and made a rank growth. The Arlington No. 22899 made 1420 pounds of straw per acre, and Otootan 3737 pounds, and Mammoth Yellow 2222 pounds. Chemical composition and feeding experiments of soy bean straw show that it is a good roughage. The hulls and small stems are readily eaten by cattle and sheep. Lambs fed a ration.of soy bean straw, shelled! corn, and linseed meal made a fair gain.* * Ohio Bulletin No. 245. 104 TABLE VII. Variety Characters of Beans Vani eis ietis Color 'of blooms Average number of days fromi planting seed Color oAf to n Acme ----- 102 55 90 Chinese---------- 'Pink ------White and Purple 72 -Ebony--Pink -- - - - - 67 _---Edward Purple --------- 70 Hollybrook__ 80 Purple ---------__ Haberlandt 49 - ---Ito San ---------- Purple Mammoth Yellow_ White and Purple 68 90 Morse 103 Otootan ---------- Pink -__ Pink -- --- - 80 Peking - -65 Shanghai - -- - - White ----55 White ---------Swan - - -----Purple --- -- 65 Tokyo - ----Purple ---------- 87 Wlson Wn---------57 -Sherwood Barchet ---Blackbeauty Austin---------Biloxi-----aird------ 65 -- --- 59 White and Purple 100 Purple White Purple Pinkish _ --------- _ --- - - 70 --------Purple- ----- Pink 111 118 150 105 144 155 117 130 115 130 82 133 118 151 120 118 120 S103 and 110 _-- 119 110 __ Yellow Yellow Brown Brown Dark brown Black Dark browvn Black Greenish Yellow Yellow Yellow Yellow Olive Brown Black Black or red'sh Yellow Green Black Yellow _ __ VARIETY TEST OF Soy BEANS FOR GRAIN AND OIL In 1917 in co-opcration with the Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture, the Experiment Station grew 41 varieties and strains of soy beans. The seed came originally from different sources, and they were grown for the- purpose of getting data on 'habit of growth, adaptability, yield of grain, chemical composition, etc. They were planted May 15 on sandy soil in rows 3/2 feet wide and thinned to a uniform stand. The plots were small and planted in duplicate. Below is a table showing the results of one year's test 105 TABLE ing, YII.-Yields of Seed and Straw, Date Ripenand Chemical Analyses Varieties and Strains of Soy Beans Grown in Co-operation With U. S. Department of Agriculture of of Yield per acre Chemical analyses Bureau of Plant Industry Number 0 0 0 30598-A--___----9-10 30746-A 35622--------------9- 7 35125-------------- 9-7 36576 ------------ fI ___ 36651--------------8-15 36829--------------9- 7 36830-9-10 36846--------------8-15 36901 ------------- 8-17 36847--------------8-20 36903 _________-I8-15 36904--------------8-13 36905--------------8-15 36915--------------8-12 _--------8-15 8.8 10.2 1716 1420 5.36 5.20 6.34 6.19 7.29 20.69 23.02 24.30 22.22 23.38 38.75 33.40 29.90 33.00 32.60 9.7 10.5 14.3 11.0 7.9 14.1 11.7 10.8 10.3 2323 1214 1069 607 1610 7.36 6.21 23.37 24.18 30.50 32.60 2059 673 607 6.70 6.28 6.33 6.65 23.33 24.59 23.42 24.03 35.25 31.05 32.05 32.40 11.9 10.1 8.8 9.7 9.2 14.8 37042 37047 37062 8-12 37077 ______--___9- 7 37230--------------8-15 37232--------------8-15 37239 -----------__--- -____-_____I 9-10 9-19 633 594 766 396 475 1567 _ 6.11 7.61 23.14 21.74 32.60 34.05 7.00 7.40 23.96 22.85 5.80 6.27 23.64 19.85 33.20 33.10 33.55 40.25 9.9 5.3 11.0 6.4 7.5 12.8 449 1531 819 7.53 7.73 6.50 7.00 7.01 6.18 6.66 5.50 23.45 22.32 23.81 22.54 23.37 19.92 21.88 23.36 32.70 33.10 34.05 34.95 -- 307 1399 1610 1505 1716 37244------------37245 37246------------- ------ 9-19 9-24 9-10 9-17 32.8G 5.7 11.0 37250-------------9-17 37262_--------I 9-24 37272-------------- 9-17 35.00 32.60 35.11 17.2 2138 1954 1690 1584 620 6.34 6.42 5.55 21.70 19.20 22.59 38.05 39.80 37.10 37298 _-----------9-15 115.8 37335 -_------------9-15 37344-------__-_--9-19 -18.8 37570------------- 11.9 2191 11.41 1426 16.1. 10.8 18.9 10.6 6.36 6.79 7.61 6.17 20.38 21.76 19.70 22.69 38.20 38.10 37.40 36.10; 32.10 39.00 38.40 37571 38218 38451 -__---_ 38455 ------40114 ----------- 8-12 8-16 9-17 9.9 8.8 515 1768 6.03 6.28 23.58 21.54 9-19 9-17 2560 1478 6.52 6.15 19.94 20.36 37.9037.85 33.751 35.55 34.45 38462-------------- 9-19 40115 ------------ 1 9-20 ------------ 1 9-20 19.4 6.8 29301 1448 6.43 6.25 15.32 21.19 37301-------------Mammoth ---- 9-19 11.4- 9.7 1531 1954 6.27 6.70 21.33 21.63 9-22 23.31 2297 6.10 23.60 35.05 *Repor~ted by Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture. i r'i 7 \X iotv, aind hlardl to liarnrst. to betanis is, ill somlit (twa I arictics arIt dwarl in 11f) habi growth li. flit jp'ct'iitagt c l\\ tI' va ittits, Icss than .i0; il iL' la \ airictits it rainkts fromi GO to 75 p'r ct. 1Te slrawv of d(lxa , arictics is not eaten closely bN l 1'hei car~ lv Ill(e yieldl ofi s('l I t1'ro 28 strains and xa11iiis ft'll 50l pcrI crint bclow thiat of Miai1iiotlh Y'llmvo~nly' four stuains caeal' witin 21) pc cenit of Ma mmoth Yellow\ 1l011(1 '(lallt'( it. Frcom tht s andpin~tt of' \'Itld of sectd and straw or hay, oll~y toui or fix x tictics c' oler allypronlic.Thhy arc e n eldfrhr in petr t'enit of' fat, mny of fte low \'t'yii~ci xariehies an tra((ins'I rittit' toil ttt ly wi~lthftiiait )i i'aligs YcMailow.I YlW'. 35622 fT' prioftcii to IU.25. pcr cit toncIit'i 1'oii \) in :37017. on 29.5) in No. So'i BEA NS II liitl~tes a11 t'Xt'tllt'ii iax' whx lamxesIn Itt at ft'e lroper tine. Its ft'tdiiigf xalui ''t'eins to ht eqlual toi that of' alfalfa antd Cowpt'a hay. 'IT avetrage of 23 analyst's shows that it con~in~iis i pter ceiit tiidt extract, pos,st it Th li'SOy bt'8i aiid 2.8 pt'r tecnt ft. Wliii used f or' tlis pur-1 shld~~ lit ct'i af'ler ft' pods bt'giii to foirimi done1( too late, the st[(ins liecoiie woodIy and1 the leaves sha tter' badIly. Soy beans can be mowed and cured in the same wax' as co-wpeas. The plants should lie in the swath about two intoh days, an. theni r1( akL d into( wVindro1ws ori thrownr smnal wa th leayc rIiacks or oni curing ra i'aRes. It' left ini t1w or' e'xposed( to1 dirct sunishinie too long, the dry5(lx and~ f'all ol' IPa(II, aindtl dlua [lity of' the (IeteioiOats. .\t hi' i'enininlg w\indrlows or o1' r1acks four1 or' fiye cilax's, cuiired, andu shoiiuld bai prioiltlV st01red. Iiav gr'eatly in cocks, or the hayx is Sioniu ol [lhe aii('t < r be'2 itteri soijied tor' hay pro-0 duci(tionI tihan o11h(2rs. 110)52 Iliat iave l' rkg, roarse. \\oodlV st(1ns an 111short br'anches m1ake( a hay that is t'stedl liax a iiwai' habit of gr~owlh, and tim 'rutor'_, (d0 not lend( ttiu'isu'1y s to ha y pr1oduLctioni. Those vaiiuties that rir((~ile 125 (lays or ior ml to inatui'u sued give fihe lamrest y'i('lds of hay;' those that hav e a vne orW 01'emi-vino' habit of' groihoxl iuake [1w best ([uality of, hav. \':; ii rx Tr'us (20 11.y r lfale I1. shows the( r'ela tive 'iu'ld of' hax' of' 1(1 lead(hng v aritiies. They' we're planted in three loot i'oe at the' r'ate of one bushel pert aer'e. fertil ized(, and cuit lvated2( as a v ar1i('ty test. xaiitiu's K;~~ 5. (Turi' Sod Bem (m''ck "la 108 TABLE ,X.-Yield of Hay of Varieties in 1917 and 1918 C C Varieties I Yield per acre 11917 Lbs Lbs 3660 2460 258012100 350013300 2700 5560 4140 2220 1918 2392 - - - - 3380 2912 3276 3536 __5756 4940 2444 ILbs 1 Lbs1 Lbs I LbslI LbsI Lbs Lbs Lbs Average yield-I_ _ _130261 A29801250633883418 56581454012332= In the above table the average yield of hay ranges from 2332 pounds per acre to 5658 pounds. At $25.00 per ton the money value from the lowest yielding variety, Wilson, is $29.15 per acre; for the highest yielding variety, Otootan, it is $70.73 per acre. Named in order in which they reached haymaking stage are Wilson, Virginia, Ebony, Hollybrook, Blackbeauty, Arlington, Barchet, Mammoth Yellow, Biloxi and Otootan. They required from,85 to 112 days from date of planting to date of mowing for hay. Mammoth Yellow and' Biloxi grow -erect and are coarse; Ebony, Blackbeauty, and Hollybrook have slender stems and many branches; the other varieties grow three or four feet in height with an abundance of leaves and branches, and, although they are erect in manner of growth, the ends of the branches have a considerable tendency to twine or form long, slender,. weak vine-like stems. In 1918 wheat stubble land was plowed and planted June 20th in Mammoth Yellow soy beans. The- rows were 30 inches wide and seed dropped in drill. At time of planting a mixture of 160 pounds of acid phosphate and 60 pounds of cotton seed meal drill. TABLE The beans were- given two were cut September' 17th .and cur ed on racks. cultivations. They of Hay Lbs. 140 was applied in the Lbs. I Lbs. 160 180 1936 XI.-Rate of Seeding anid Yield Per Acre- Seed per acre Yield of hay I:3680 --- 45,11 1 1I ILbs. I Lbs. I, Lbs. 1 I Lbs. 1 Lbs. 60 1 1'3200 1 1 2752 28481 I 80 1 100 1 120 f 2400 ,1 2096 1188.8 109 In the table it is noticed that the yield of hay gradually decreased as the rate of seeding increased. The large yield of hay from the small rate of seeding is explained by the unfavorable weather conditions of August, which was dry. The thickly seeded plants did not make a large growth, but they made a very fine quality of hay being free from coarse, woody stems. The 30 inch width of row commends itself because its middle is easy to cultivate with one furrow of a harrow or scrape and two rows can be mowed at one trip with a five foot blade. The mowing is made easy, if the rows are uniform in width and laid by level; the curing may be hastened by removing dividing board from mower and allowing the beans to fall over the whole swath. MIXTURE OF COWPEAS AND SOY BEANS FOR HAY Cowpeas and soy beans when seeded together form a mixture that produces an excellent quality of hay. The advantages of a mixture over either crop alone are that the combined yield is, in many cases, increased; that the curing of the cowpeas is made easier because of the stemmy nature of the soy bean, and that, as a result of the better curing, the quality of the hay is improved. However, either crop alone makes excellent hay when harvested at the right stage and properly cured. To secure an increase in yield when soy beans are seeded with cowpeas, they must not be planted on too poor land or suffer from an unfavorable season. When the conditions are not favorable to prompt growth, weeds and grass choke the beans and their growth is not proportionate to the cowpeas. The time from planting to proper haymaking stage is about 70 or 80 days. The mixture is harvested and made into hay in the same way that cowpea hay is made. The stems of the beans hold the cowpea vines apart, and the mixed hay cures more rapidly than cowpea hay alone. Care should be exercised in handling the hay to prevent the loss of leaves, which form a very valuable part of the hay. SEEDED MIXTURES OF SOY BEANS AND COWPEAS In Table XII. it is seen that soy beans sowed broadcaSt at the rate of 10 pecks per acre gave an average yield of 2467 pounds of cured hay per acre. By mixing 5 pecks of soy beans with 5 pecks of whipoorwill. cowpeas and sowing them broadcast the yield of cured1 hay was increased 203 pounds per acre. When the amount of soy beans mixed with 5 pecks of cowpeas was reduced from 5 to 3 pecks, the average yield of bay was slightly increased 280 pounds per acre. A m .ixture of 5 pecks of Mamnoth Yellow beans and of 'HEAVY 110 of :352 of three pecks of Iron cowpeas gave an average increase pounds of hay over the yield of 10 pecks of soy beans planted alone. In Table XII. itlis shown that 10 pecks of Mammoth Yellow soy beans alone sown broadcast dlid not yield per acre 467 pounds as much cturedl hay as 10 pecks Whippoorwill 10 to 71/2 cowpeas planted in a similar way. When the rate of seeding 329 from1- of soy beans was reduced pecks per acre, the yield of hay fell °acre. off pounds per T MILE-XII. Hoavry Seeded Mix/aircs of Soy Beans (aPd( owpeas for Flay Yield cured hay t per acre C c. Varieties 4 0 -rd r,~ a) U a 10 pks. 5 pks. Mammoth 5 pks. Whippoorwill Peas ------5 pks. Mammoth Yellow Beans and Iron Peas - - - - - - - - - - - 3 pks. 3 pks. Mammoth Yellow Beans and 5 pks. Whippoorwill Peas -------10 pks. Mammoth Yellow Beans----10 pks. Whippoorwill Peas ------Mammoth Yellow Beans----Yellow Beans and Broadcast Broadcast Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. 24641 54881 2288 2256 5320 1488 2200 4640 Lbs. 1495 805 ____ Lbs. 2934 2467 2747 2819 2670 2467 2138 Lbs. 467 280 352 203 329 I. Broadcastj SBroadcast 1408 2336 5200 58(60 5320 4540 2480 12(60 Mammoth Yellow Beans----- 712 pks. Broadcast~ 2196 Broadcast 2256 Drilled 1 12001 1425 1488 805 1392 875 1744 112 LIGHT SEEDED MIXTURES OF Soy BEANS AND COWPEAS Soy beans planted broadcast at the rate of 64 pounds per acre gave an average yield of 1252 pounds of cured hay and Iron cowpeas seeded at the same rate and manner gave an average yield of 2546 pounds per acre, or an increase of 1602 pounds. When 48 pounds of Mammoth Yellow soy beans were mixed with the, same weight of Iron cowpeas and sowed broadcast, the average yield of cured hay was 2868 pounds per acre- an increase of 1616 pounds over the yield from the seeding of 64 pounds of soy beans alone or an increase of 322 pounds over the yield from the seeding of 64 pounds of Iron cowpeas. TABLE XIII. -Light Seede~d Mixtures of Soy Beans and Cowpeas I____ ____Yield for Hag. of cured hay per acre C1 ' ic.S Varieties 0 4O) 0 CO Qc)t Mammoth Yellow Beans Lbs. - Iron Mamt 64 64 Broadcast l l Lbs. I Lbs. 608 1424 2080 Lbs. I Lbs. 1712 ____ 1552 Lbs. I Lbs. 1264 1252 Lbs. ___ Cowpeas------------- Mammoth Yellow Beans Iron Cowpeas---------_ Cowpeas 48 Broadcast l 1840 14344 J Broadcast! 1888 In drill 352 In drill 1488 In drill 1328 I 1968 1448 2416 12240 I 4416 1291 4624 I . 2912 I 2516 -1294 Mammoth Iron ewBasIron ------------------- 64 64 64 48 48 2240 Yellow Beans Cowpeas 1424 3200 3376 3568 2416 3120 2868 1368 1616 160 2 947 __ !2315 _ 2970 114 When 64 pounds of soy beans was planted in the drill and cultivated two or three times, the yield of hay was 1368 pounds per acre; when 61 pounds of Iron cowpeas was planted in the same way and given the same treatment, the yield of hay was 2970 pounds per acre; but when 48 pounds of soy beans was mixed with the same amount of Iron cowpeas and planted together, the average yield of hay was only 2315 pounds per acre. When the rate of seeding soy beans is reduced to about one bushel per acre, a wide difference in yield between soy beans and cowpeas is observed. The average yield of hay from 64 pounds of Iron cowpeas per acre was greater by 1294 pounds than from the same amount of soy beans. When planted in drill and given two cultivations, the cowpeas exceeded the soy beans by an average of 1602 pounds. Cowpeas, being a vine plant, covered the ground and choked out grass and weeds, while the soy beans, being an erect plant, permitted the grass and weeds to grow and was itself choked by them. To secure the maximum yield and quality of hay from soy beans, the seeding must be on good soil and sufficiently thick to keep down weeds. The advantage of drilling soy beans for hay comes from freedom of weeds and an improved quality of hay. On strong land the same results to some degree are secured from thick, broadcast seeding of beans. UIfn til Il:_kN AS A thuc r N H soyh(I!cl as at 1.( 11101111 11I cr \ I(\ anl - (c1 l croI lt tan cro i Qlla iull pr ocl Ic -ce l of es CMVIrii- itw is -)Ilrr(I rut \l aorr ' rots it lit Sluy tl ii ntogen HwI[ coast l aill loi *4 lt o a iju i cra is. It I a t I c tr licla ne[h'( rin i i u I i lt si-I chit cnition fur~l~( of crop.itui Y nhollousing It1)jv crop bc)1 tiliurhh isr byuluu clck incr ( Ihwlill c r-- r wilcits \t-li util~utcul I'hidl' o Gr \\in 1 \c lit S n Nodulesc htijlc 116 The coipa ritive fertilizing effect of a crop,. cowpeas and soy beans drilled and cultivated when followed by a cotton crop is shown in the following table: TABLE XIV. Coinpcalwue Fertilizing Effect of Soy Beans, and Corn on a Succeeding Cotton Crop corn Yield of seed cotton per acre. Crops r Lbs.After Corn __________________- 1303 After Cowpeas ______________-1890 After Soy Beans 1910 Lbs. 979 962 1008 Lbs. 1141 1426 1159 Lbs. __ 285 318 the grain from the corn, cowpeas and were harvested. All the stover and straw of the corn, cowpeas, and soy- beans were left on Only plowed under the next spring for soil improvement. Cotton followed corn, cowpeas, and. soy beans, and received no nitrogenous fertilizer. From the corn land the average yield of seed cotton was 1141 pounds per acre; from the cowpea land, 1426 pounds; and from the soy bean land, 1459 pounds. The cowpea land gave an average increase over the corn land of 285 pounds, and the soy beans land an average increase of 318 pounds. In money value, the -the beans land and ing benefit from the cowpeas to the following cotton crop, if the seed cotton be calculated at 4 cents a pound,, was $11.4O and from the soy beans $12.72 per acre.. fertiliz- 117 In 1909 a mixture of Crimson Clover and Red Rust -Proof oats, of Crimson Clover and Blue Stem Wheat, and of Crimson Clover alone were planted after corn, cowpeas, and soy beans. The yield of cured hay is shown in the table below: TABLE X.-Comparative Fertilizing Effect of Soy Beans, Cowpeas and Corn on a Following Hay Crop Yield of cured hay per acre co Crops 5 ,. -~ E ai Lbs. After Corn __----------1 4373 After Soy Beans------- 5137 After Cowpeas __________ 4709° I Lbs. 3512 4722 5305 Lbs. 2289 2989 2791 Lbs. 3391 4249 4268 Lbs. 858 877 In the above table it is noticed that yield of hay following cowpeas and soy and 858 pounds greater respectively than lows corn. When the hay was valued at [he average beans is 877 when it fol$15.00 a ton, the fertilizing effect of the cowpeas was $6.56 per acre, and of soy beans $6.43. In 1906 an experiment was conducted to secure data on the fertilizing effect of corn, cowpeas, and soy beans on a succeeding winter oat crop. The increase in yield oats due to cowpeas, even where the seed had been of picked, was about 300 per cent over the yield from the corn land. The increase in oats due to soy beans, which were gathered in such a way as to leave only the stubble, was 173 per cent over the yield from the corn land. The Ohio Experiment Station found that the average yield of wheat following soy beans was 10.3 bushels greater than that following COMPARATIVE corn. * YIELD OF GRAIN FROM Soy BEANS, CORN AND COWPEAS The comparative yield of grain from corn, cowpeas, and soy beans is shown in Table XVI. These crops were planted at the same time, fertilized alike, and received CSee p. 592 baul. 312, Ohio Agri. Experiment Station.) 118 good culture. In each case the grain was carefully harvested and weighed, and in the table is actual weight of grain or seed not including the weight of husks, cowpeas and soy bean hulls. the recorded TABLE CoInmparative Yield Grails Per Acre Corn, Cowpeas, and Soy Beans. Crops 1908 190911910 19131191411915 1916119171 Av. XVI. of of Corn--Cowpeas Soy Beans ------------- 8051 ----8641 5001 1664 157211604 2294 1020 1080 8701 432 Lbsj Lbs Lbs Lbsl Lbs Lbsl Lbs1 Lbs Lbs 464 1322 169912800 1677 320 4231 376 920 1318 70011084 1019 5301 811 721 In the.column of averages it is noticed that the pounds of shelled corn per acre more than doubles the pounds of soy beans or cowpeas. If the legumes are grown only for their grain, their yield does not compare favorably with corn as a grain crop. The analysis of the soy bean grain shows that it has alout four times as much digestible protein, one-third as much carbohydrates, and over three times as much fat as corn grain. Soy beans or soy bean meal, fed as a supplemlent twith corn to growing stock or those requiring a high protein ration, produce a gain about equal to that obtained from the feeding of equal amounts of shorts, tankage or cottonseed meal in combination with grain. For dairy cattle, ground soy beans show a slightly In feedhigher feeding value than cotton seed ing experiments of fattening hogs, soy beans meal.* nented with corn gave about the same gain that supple- was. secured from feeding tankage and corn." When one considers the fertilizing effect of a crop of soy beans on the land for any following crop, and the ease with which the crop is grown and the high value of the bean as a concentrated feed, the true value: of the corn and the bean crop to the farmer seen in its real light. ENEMIES OF THE Soy BEAN feeding- may be Probably the greatest enemy to the growing of the soy bean is rabbits. They are very fond of the young, green, tender foliage. Where only a small patch is. planted, the rabbit has been known to destroy it entire-ly. It is rabbits and for the farm. suggested 126, that the farmer plant enough for the- *Tenn. * *Ild. Bul, Bul. No. 80. 137. 1 Il I(Ic. (I trI( o(I- Imcun11: ro u cause I In ni onit . i'iitr Tl I ((111(' nl j hlls ur is-) honic I at '1i5('l 1)ivt Ibisph 11. WI 1cr Iwsol ' '' s Illv i il \i111c1111'lh\ iil li ;1(Iv~ ~ s ~ isiit{~ln m "ut cro hduti hi). is not( xxuii- nt. xx i iii il ll\ ~o 5 Tlw S(A, Il I hchit till ~ llixli i Ic hi ai dii ' 120 it may later appear small round bodies (sclerotia) which perpetuates the fungus. Leaf spot sometimes appears when the plants have .about reached maturity. It does not do much injury. OF BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON VARIETIES SOY BEANS ACME 14954.-This is a medium late variety. The plants range from 25 to 36 inches in height. The stems are semivined with 3-6 slender lateral branches almost as high as the :main stems. The pods bear from 2 to 3 beans. This is a prolific variety. ARLINGTON 22899.-This is a medium early variety. The color of the bloom is purple. The plants range from 36 to 48 inches in height. The stein is fine, moderately erect, and has many long ascending branches. The leaflets are large heart shaped and furnish an abundant foliage. The pods are :2 to 21 inches in length, yellowish and very fuzzy; the seed remain in the pods until they are fully ripe and the over-ripe pods do not shatter badly when they are harvested. AUSTIN 17263.-This is an early variety with white blooms. The plants range about 30 inches in height with numerous bunchy and woody stems. The leaflets are broad at base and pointed. Its seed is rather large and yellow. BAIRD.-This is an early variety. The beans are small and reddish. The plants range from 15 to 20 inches in height. The stems are small and upright and have very few lateral branches. Its leaves are small and subject to a brown rust .and early shedding. It is not a promising variety. BARCHET 23232.-This is a late semi-vine variety, later than the Mammoth Yellow. The color of the bloom is pinkish. The plants are slender and vary from 32 to 40 inches in height and send out from 2 to 6 lateral vine-like branches as tall as the main stem. Its pods are small brown or blackish and do not shatter when over-ripe. It is a promising variety for a late hay crop. BLACKBEAUTY. This is a medium early, black-seeded variety. The stem and branches are slender and erect with a tendency to twine when grown on fertile land. It is leafy and retains them well until its pods are ripe. Its pod stems are very short and 'do not grow in large clusters; its flowers are pink or purple; and its seed are black. BILOXI.-The stem is strong, woody, making a rank growth that resembles Mammoth Yellow. It varies from 40 to 48 inches in height, and is erect and easy to mow. Its pods are brown and very fuzzy; and its seed are brown and medium size. It is a good variety for seed and hay, if planted early. CHINESE 20797.-This variety is very late. The bean is -small and dark in color and does not shatter badly. The stems range from 36 to 45 inches, all vine-like but strong enough to give them an upright form and make the mowing for hay easy. The leaves are small and abundant. The variety is :promising for hay but not for seed. I-I IN.-liii it s is a smalil blahck seeded medium late variety. iln giod soil thle stems have a tendency to twine. It h~as both putrple and wile booms. The leaves are small, dark and crimptiled. T[le pint is very smiall, and contains two or three This \ trots is promtisintg as a h;ry crop and tblack sced. j eltls seed well. Ut )WAIl) SI IY. - 'a dci tis name is described a late variety The platnt v aries trom a11 to 40 rescmhli ig \Iamitothlt clluss. upr~tigtht stem with inches itn leiiglt las tog a s,:ong 55 iif)(I ntamix slioig ttpigLt Iateri'l branttchecs beating fruit. 'Ihe p~ods ate latrk. coutaitong Iss0 or' Ittee eloss beans. This makes a good iraiets fot 'a as (d seedi in the Guilf States. early varie[N with II \tH1!tl..\NDT)I. -'Ihis is a lOwN mneiumt coarsue, still p~lattts, hasving. a tejolenex to biatteh Iteas 1k but not ss close about the stemts whicht mnakes it to tw'sine. Its seed gru It is a goodl ariels for seed sottiemltat iffticult to larvsest. 1II .L\ IMt()LK 1 727fz II Its tro lk is abti t tw~\o weseks earlier thtan I ' I he Atttntiotli YelowC. atrste whi'te: . ItIs b)ol its seeid ueIi in litze/ UTe ptihtt andti 5ellowv. are slendler antirantg: tcs iin frotm 2 1-3tin higIt. (etietalls there . I]R. rih \ v)o]stetit, andi cc ) e~vlateral biatnchitds are "mtal I s. The iii Itn~e bta with Iwo 5iis W' T r ,>~carl Iio ot Itepd 'Thuis N-m-ticl\ sirableifo I'l) S.\N SON' (ts siz t n 'his l el i mil ai Theh ied is i n t 16 inchtes in heit. hatbit. withl re in t stemls. Tis is coarlse to iii ci'elletit varietY carlp het'i' 5erx 1151' s u I lulls btrook flint NI \\III il II I.I.(I\W. Mlitnnoithlt'elbisv .somletimtes icalledt nutnittitil, is a late sviuills 'eqiliing 1201Ii tot (:.s 130 to tttttltt'( seed. 'I lie plantts rattge 'rutu '27 to 3(1 inchles ill height. The stiltns arc' rathier coiiatse, i'rictI, iand Nootly, having tmany rather stilt' literal fruiit lieti og bri nches. Its ahbndilt leases are large, ilak. itd crintkledi: its flowers wh ite. The podts are of iuiakes a satisfactory trll size, tiiii\\ beaus. Thlis' vaicii iima lbe bout1 seedl aniti~ ha,ii and bcin.4 a rank groini\lg vaity clip. Ii is Vi (Ii used very saitiatotuly f or a 1.41(41 illnilrhi adlapteto th Gulfi States. Ile 'hle plaiits vaiy Ol1(1 I _\. -Tis, :1 is Ir hle laiet line. fromu ltoto 15 inl)hes in hieighit. The stiis ale ratii almoislit(t vine-lik lants j are abou)Jit i li tou il:il ihown i N e dc c toIII cat In 10N fr1 c thIe~ 1)1 he hrucS spr_1 uitg ou -I toi Gi.lt inc e above il I t gro N td lint 1111111 i l/t n i li It re ha ll an abndnc\Nt \l I f (.san curN rNeal~dill.Its ipods il hriitN. I'run1 Left Io Iii,;lit: Plants 1)f "Three Lcadili,. A;u'Wtics. 1, liarcI let: '_'. _Arliii 9tun: 3 \l:unuiolh )cIIO . t'1 h tl~i tut \\ti ooI Iii'ui'i ; Itaing; fuzzi . ht t 1 t CM'tt\ SW,\\\' inyt 'tll whit,,I it. li0. Iru 1 t wu Nith lI-ii', 22:i79) -'pii x tit. coulor. o s a juu'uuij"' The ihltoonts dirc itt The 1) 1Iis rittlgt int. hit'lt. :dit heartit 1t 31',inchet'is t ill sit. Illed'u ::r shttap.d. l t TON)-( pull- t.' til 7ail . it "phlltS iu neis ii aippearls :ibuut \ii';u~st 'I I sils It. 1w n in, tilt' w'%u S! v mit'iuiitt rc t.' nch i titt.r'tbr ! es. lTlt' po e nid s rehu tni ini sizt. r 'itt' 55)3e pcr. ttt Ilii or lueit gt tutu'e This 5I i l l pi u' tt'heir n ' ilt a t V i t.'s l\ Iii I06-it clo i a 11 istt a utul of ttt bii oom Tllu Is! Ih 111 I, Wistm Var\'it\