History of Soy

Introduction of Soybeans to North America by Samuel Bowen in 1765

Page 3

The mystery as to the identity of the legume seed introduced from China into Georgia is clarified by Samuel Bowen:

The Chinese use these vetches for the following purposes. — From them they prepare an excellent kind of vermicelli, esteemed by some preferable to the Italian: nothing keeps better at sea, not being subject to be destroyed by the weevil.

In Canton, and other cities of China, they are used for salad, and also boiled like greens, or stewed in soup, after they have been prepared in the following manner:

They put about two quarts of the vetches into a coarse bag, or hair-cloth bag that will hold about a peck, and after steeping them in it a little time in warm water, they lay the bag on flat grating, or a wooden lattice, placed about half way down a tub, and put a cover on the tub: then every four hours they pour water on them, and in about 36 or 40 hours they will have sprouted about three inches in length: they are then taken out, and dressed with oil and vinegar, or boiled as other vegetables.

At sea, where fresh water is valuable, they place a cock in the bottom of the tub and draw off the water that drains from them to moisten them again, so that none is lost.

Mr. Flint and Mr. Bowen having found them an excellent antiscorbutic prepared in this manner, was a principal reason for his introducing them into America, as it would be a most valuable remedy to prevent or cure the scurvy amongst the seaman on board his majesty's ships.

These vetches are also of great use in warm countries where grass is scarce, as you may soon raise most excellent fodder for your cattle, which may be given them either green, or made into hay, and not thrashed. In warm climates they yield four crops a year, each crop will ripen in six weeks: they grow erect in tufts from 18 inches to two feet high (Bowen, 1767).

Bernard Romans (1775) described the crop as

A species of Dolichos lately introduced into Georgia from China although not properly a grass, yet it thrives to admiration there and yields four or five crops per annum. I think it not improper to recommend, as deserving cultivation for feeding cattle, the more so as all kinds are fond of it.

The above statements clearly demonstrate that Samuel Bowen brought soybeans from China to Savannah. Soybeans are not attacked by bruchid beetles, Callobruchus spp., are as mungbeans, Vigna radiata (L.)Wilczek. Soybean sprouts are normally cooked while mungbean sprouts usually are eaten raw. For use as green forage crop, soybean plants were harvested after 6 wk of growth and then replanted. Depending on the first planting date and the date of the first frost, it is possible to obtain from 3-5 soybean crops per year in the Savannah area. Romans reference to Dolichos was the soybean, Dolichos soja L.(Linnaeus, 1 753). Secondly, the first crop was planted in 1765 by Henry Yonge. Thirdly, the soybeans were brought to America for the purpose of manufacturing soy sauce and other products for export to England. Lastly, Samuel Bowen and James Flint appear to be connected somehow in this enterprise. Perhaps James Flint provided the financial resources needed by Samuel Bowen. Further circumstantial evidence for the close connection between the 2 gentlemen is provided by the names of Samuel Bowen's sons. Samuel and Jane Bowen had 4 children, 2 sons named James Flint and Samuel Flint and 2 daughters, Elizabeth Ann and Mary Dinah (Hartridge Collection). In addition, in 1775. James Flint either visited or lived with the Bowen family on their plantation (Georgia Gazette. March 2. 1775).

Samuel Bowen also was interested in the manufacture of a starch powder to substitute for sago. Concerning his many observations in China, Samuel Bowen states,

I particularly took notice of a kind of powder in great esteem there, as an occasional diet, which I found to be the fine powder of Sago or China salop, prepared for the use of travelers, both by land and sea, which the Mandarines never travel without. At my return to England, I was fully persuaded, that the vegetable which produced this powder in China, with this view I went over to his Majesty's province of Georgia, where I was so lucky to find it, and have therefrom manufactured some quantity: this has been seen and approved of by several physicians and other gentlemen, as that it would be of great service in hospitals, the army, navy, in the African ships, and in all long voyages, being an excellent antiscorbatick (Georgia Gazette. September 17, 1766).

Dossie (1768-1771) reveals that Samuel Bowen used a root of a vegetable make a substitute for sago and Bonner (1964) concludes that the sago substitute was made from sweet potatoes [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.].

Previous Page | Next Page