Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1905-03-08
IMPORTANT TO FARMERS.


The question of soil incubation
for the production of various Ie-
guminouS crops is now prominent
~ before the public. Realizing
the Importance of this subject to
Virginia farmers. the Virginia En-
pertinent Station, through its De
partment of Bacteriology, has I'M
dertaken the preparation of inocu-
iating material on alfalfa. yetches.
cowpeas and soy beans. This work
Is i'm charge Of DIR. Meade Fergu-
son, bacteriologist of the Station.
The various cultures mentioned
are now in the course of prepare
ton and will be ready fordistri5u-
tion in ample time for inoculating
soil for any of the above crops this
spring. Enough of the particular
bacteria applied for to inoculate
five acres of land will be sent to
any farmer residing in the State
on the following conditions:
Twenty-Five cents viii be charged
for sufficient material to inoculate
one acre of land. This charge Is
not made for the service of our
bacteriologist, but simply to cover
the cost of a container for the So
luton that can be transmitted with
safety through the mails, and also
TO pay postage. All the labor of
inoculating and preparing these
cultures for distribution in the
State Is being borne by the Station.
but the authorities believe that if
the bacteria will accomplish any
thing like the results claimed for
them that persons receiving the
material gratis would be glad to
pay the small charge imposed for
packing and mailing which the
Station has no legitimate means
for meeting. and As this offer Is
made 10 all the farmers of the
State, 1t is clear that the burden
would be greater than the strait
ened finances of the Station could
bear. When the packages are sent
out they viii contain printed direc-
tons as TO how 20 use the bacteria
most effectively. 4 blank will
also be enclosed and it is expected
that every farmer receiving a
package will report at the end of
the growing season 10 the Station
authorities on the results of his
work. This information is desired
IN order that the effectiveness of
soil incubation for the crops mem
toned may be definitely ascer-
tanned.
The value of incubation becomes
apparent when il is stated that
farmers can often secure good
stands of alfalfa and are able to
grow the crop fairly we'll for one
or two years, after which it Sickeps
and dies. 1t seems as a rule that
when these results follow no nod
ules have formed on the roots of
the plants, and as the bacteria
which give the plant its power of
asslmllating atmospheric nitrogen
reside IN these nOdules, the cause
OF death Is apparent. The great
value OF leguminOus crops lies in
their power To gather atmospheric
nitrogen and store it in the soil
through the action of the bacteria
Just described. Therefore. the
importance of incubation becomes
apparent, for atmospheric nitrogen
can be stored in the soil at a very
low cost to the farmer, whereas he
has to pay at least 10 cents pound
for it in a commercial form. The
Station believes that in Offering
these cultures to the farmers that
1t IS doing a work of pronounced
value for the advancement of the
agricultural interests of the State
These cultures are guaranteed TO
be pure and true to name. and il is
believed that hundreds of farmers
VIII be glad to avail themselves of
the opportunity presented TO test
the merits Of artificial soil inocula-
ton.
ANDREW NJ. SOULE.
Blacksburg. Va. Director