Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-03-02
AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT.
Free InOcuIatlng Material for Leguml-
nous Crops.

The question of soil inoculation for the
production of various leguminous crops is
now prominently before the public. Re-
alizing the importance Of this subject to
Virginia farmers, the Virginia Experiment
Station, through its Department of Bac-
teriology, has undertaken the preparation
of inoculatiDg material for alfalfa, vetches,
cowpeas and soy beans. This work is in
charge of DR.. Meade Ferguson, bacteriol'
ogist of the Station. The various cultures
mentioned are now in the course OF prep.
aration and will be ready for distribution
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 in the State on the following
conditions:
twenty-five cents will be charged for
sufficient material to lnoculate 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 solu-
ton that can be transmitted with safety
through the mails, and also to pay post
age. All the labor of inoculsting and pre-
pairing these cultures for distribution in
the State is being borne by the Station,
but the authorities believe that if the bac-
terra will accomplish anything like the re-
suits claimed for them that persons re-
ceiving the material gratis would be glad
to pay the small charge imposed for pack
Ing and mailing which the Station has no
legitimate means of meeting, and as this
offer is made to all the farmers Of the
State, it isscear that the burden would be
greater than the Strengthened finances OF
the Station could BEAR When the pack
ages are sent out they will contain printed
directions as to how to use the bacteria
most effectively. A blank will also be en-
closed and it is expected that every farmer
receiving a package will report at the end
of the growing season to the Station au-
thorities on the results Of bis work. This
information is desired in order that the ef-
fectiveLess of soil incubation for the crops
mentioned may be definitely ascertained.
The value of incubation becomes APP
parent when it 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 sickeDs
and dies. 1t seems as rule that when
these results follow no nodules haYe
formed on the roots Of the plants, and as
the bacteria which give the plant its power
of assimilating atmospheric nitrogen re-
side in these nodules, the cause of death
is apparent. The great value of legumi-
nous 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 impor-
tance of incubation becomes apparent,
for atmospheric nitrogen can be stored in
the soil at very low cost to she farmer,
whereas he has to pay at least Is cents a
pound for it in a commercial form. The
Station believes that in offering these cul-
lures TO the farmers that it is doing q
work of pronounced value for the ad-
vancement of the agricultural interests
of the State. These cultures are guaran-
teed to be pure and true to name, and ii
is believed that hundreds of farmers will
be glad to avail themselves of the or por'
tunlty presented to test the merits Of arti
fetal soil incubation.
ANDREW NJ. SOULE,
Director.
Blacksbure, Va, Feb. 27, 1905.