The pods contain a row of beans that are as round as the common pea, only slightly larger in scale, and of a light yellowish amber colour. Only recently a British Soya Bean Growers' Research and Development Society was formed in London to carry out the mission described in its title.
It is recognised that if soya beans are to be successful grown in this country we shall require to introduce varieties more adaptable to our climate. Only in that way can the yield per acre be raised to a point that would enable cultivation here to compete with imported produce.
This new factory at Shieldhall is drawing its supplies from Manchuria, where about 25 per cent. of all cultivated land is devoted to the soya crop. Whatever trouble lies ahead for Manchuria, it is not expected that the export of soya beans will be disturbed. The bean is one of that country's main trading assets. For 30 years it has entered into European trading, Continental countries appreciating the value of soya meal in the feeding of farm stock.
Our own country has imported substantial quantities of soya meal in the past, and our farmers know feeding values. Now it is possible, within the differential tariffs existing, to do the milling of the beans here. There is a duty of 10 per cent. upon the soya bean, and of 20 per cent upon the soya meal. This difference Offers scope for such enterprise as the Shieldhall factory.
A site was acquired from the Clyde Trustees on a 99 years' lease at Shieldhall in 1938. Last year building operations were begun, and now the premises, with their four giant silos for the storage of the beans, are practically ready to start operations. Recently the unloading of the frst cargo from Manchuria was begun.
The factory cost between £120,000 and £130000 to build and equip. About 90 per cent of this money was expended upon British materials and labour. The chairman of the company is Mr. John MacLean, of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.