The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-08-19
BACTERIA TO BE SENT TO
FARMERS BY The GOVERNMENT
Discovery Which is Expected to Prove
of Great Value to
Agriculture.

cultures may be applied. The applicant
must specify what particular uaric ty
of lcguminous crops he desires to es-
tablish. 1t has been found that the
bacteria common to certain families OF
legumcs will not make their home on
the roots of legumes of other families.
For ms tance, the bacteria that subsist
on the roots of alfafa will not live on
the roots OF red clover. The bacteria on
red clover, however, will inoculat
white clover, crimson clover alike,
buffalo clover and all of the tri ifolium
clovers. The bacteria on bird clover,
which is common in some parts of the
country, will inoculate alfalfa. The
bacteria of sIy beans will work on COW
peas and similar members of the bean
family.
The first way of applying the cul-
lures is to spread the seed out thinly
on the table and sprinkle the solution
over it; then, when dry, to SOW as us
ual. The other way is to take guam
tity of soil in II place out of the sun
shine, sprinkle the solution over it,
stir it up apd scatter it broadcast over
the ground to be seeded.
Successful incubation can be secured
by taking soil from thrifty field of
legumes such us alfalfa, clover" or
vetches and scattering it over the field
where either of these crops may be de-
sired. Owing to tho cost of freight this
is an expensive method, but it has
times.
AS TO ALFALFA.
The experiment stations in Illinois
and Ohio, after years Of failure TO es-
tlblish alfalfa sent out beyond the Mis-
souri, and secured quantities of soil
from fine fields of alfalfa and then sue
ceeded in making alfalfa grow. These
stations have in turn supplied earth for
inoculnting purposes to farmers and
other stations further cast. This meth
cd is one which the individual farmer
can use to advantage after he has once
established small area of any par
ticular crop lie desires.
Nearly everywhere east of the Mis-
souri, River farmers find that they can
not make alfalfa grow, though it j.
the most profitable forage crop known.
from ten to forty acres OF it
will yield a large income, whether sold
as hay or fed TO live stock. In the alka-
line soils of the fur West the bacteria
so rapidly and are 50 favorc d
in the environment that alfalfa mly be
sowcd anywhere successfully. But in
the East, without inoculation of the
roots tubercles do not form and the littl G
alfalfa plants wither and die.
1t will not DO until next year that
Tho Government vii! undertake to sup.
ply cultures generally. Accurate tests
are now being made Of all cultures en-
p!oyed and every safeguard will be
takon TO fulmll expectations. Govern
mcnt has found new method of pro-
ducing the cul urcs in what is called n
n trogenfree medium and the process
will not be patented SO that the benefits
may be enjoyed by the whole country
without cost or favor.
1t has been found that 1t is not so
much the quantity of bacteria as the
charactor which tolls for success. II
the cultures are fresh ana virulent
they perform their service moro thor
oughly and the returns are satisfdc-
tory. Tho amount sent out in the
packages described are usually those
required for a bushel OF seed of the or.
binary sort, such as cover or alfalfa,
but the applicant may decrease the
quantity by increasing the amount of
water and keeping u part of the sclu-
tion over, very much as yeast may be
increased by the housewife or the
baker,
Grass being the money crop of the
country, whether sold in hay or live
stock, incubation Is expected to add
untold millions TO the grass and hay
crop OF the whole country.