The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-06-12
Highest of all in Leavening Power-Lae US Govt Report
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(buckwheat) and the Cruciferous (tur-
nips) orders depended on combined nj
trogen supplied within tn, soil. On
the other hand, he found that legumi-
nous plants did not depend entirely on
such supplies. His results were indeed
not only very definite, but it is seen
that they had a special bearing on the
admittedly unsolved problem Of the
source of the whole of the nitrogen of
leguminous crops. In the case of these
plants-that of peas for example-it
was observed that in a series Of pots to
which no nitrogen was added most Of
the plants were apparently limited in
their growth by the amount of nitro
gen which the seed supplied. Here
and there, however, Il plant growing
under ostensibly the same conditions
grew very luxuriantly and on exami-
nation it was found that whilst no nod
ules were developed on the roots ofthe
plants of limited growth, they were
abundant on those of the luxuriantly
grown plants.
In view of this result Hellriegel, with
his colleague, DR.. Wilfarth, instituted
experiments to determine whether,
by the infection of the soil with appro-
pirate organisms, the formation of the
root nodules and luxuriant growth
could be induced; and whether by the
exclusion of such infection, the result
could be prevented. To this end, they
added to some of a series ofexperimen-
tai pots 25 or 80 cubic centimeters of
turbid watery extract of fertile soil,
made by shaking given quantity of
this with five times its weight of dis
titled water, and then allowing the sol
id matter to subside. In some eases,
however, the extract was sterilized.
In those in which it was not sterilized
there was almost always a luxuriant
growth and abundant formation ofroot
nodules; but with sterilization there
was no such result. Consistent results
were obtained with peas, vetches, and
some other Leguminose; but the same
soil extract had little or no effect in
the case Of lupines, sarradella and some
other plants of the family which are
known to grow more naturally on sandy
than on loamy or rich humus soils.
Accordingly they made similar ex-
tract from a diluvial sandy soil, where
lupines were growing well, in which,
therefore, it might he supposed that
the organism peculiar to such soil
would be present; and on the applica-
tion of this to nitrogen-free soil, lu-
pines grew in it luxuriantly and nod
ules were abundantly developed on
their roots"
Gas bearing upon this curious and
interesting point, it will be well briefly
to refer here to the experiments of
Prof Noble on this subject He
undertook an investigation to determined
whether leguminous trees, as well as
our agricultural leguminous plants,
susceptible to microbe infection and
nodule formation; and also to ascertain
whether there is one nOdule-fOrming
bacterium, or whether many bacteria
have the property-each description of
plant, or perhaps each group, having
it's special bacterium." OF the three
descriptions of leguminous trees upon
which Noble experimental, he found
that the Locust and the Laburnum
were susceptible to microbe infection
and nodule formation on their roots
and showed coincidentally gain of
nitrogen, but that the Honey Locust,
being of different suborder, was not
effected by the soil extracts and pure
civilizations of microbe seeding.
The formation of nodules had long
been noted on the roots of leguminous
plants. SIN 1863 :hey were observed
on the root of the Red Glover and on
the smaller rootlets of the White Glover
growing in the heritage of grassland.
In the case of Red Glover growing in
rotation on arabic land an abundance
of nodules had been found both near
the surface and at considerable depth.
They are generally more or less globu-
lar or oval. Some found on the main
roots were more like '.Swellings" than
attached tubercles, not however, meas
INC the root, but only on one side
In the matter of the explanation OF
the action by which the nitrogen is
fixed. there is much yet to learn before
an adequate answer can be given. "The
results of Hellriegcl and others with
leguminous plants, are consistent with
we'll established facts Of agricultural
production. and with the nitrogen
statistics of soils and crops, and serve
with them to aid the solution of long
problems in connection
with thegrowth of leguminons crops.
But whether or not it may he eventually
established that nitrogen is fixed, to
any material extent, by microbes