Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-03-08
FREE TO THE FARMER
Inoculating Material for Legu-
minOus Crops

Inoculating Material for Legu
minOus Crops
The following announcement
! from Professor Andrew M. Soule
director of the Virginia Expert
, n emit Station, Virginia Polytech
mic Institute, Blacksburg, is fur
nished THE GAZETTE for publica
tion, and will be regarded as i'm.
poltant by many of our readers
"The question of soil incubation
for the production of various le-
guminous crops is now prominent
ly before the public. Realizing
the Importance of this subject to
Virginia farmers, the Virginia Ex-
pertinent Station, through its De-
partment Of Bacteriolcgy, has un-
dertaken the preparation of inocu-
lating material for alfalfa, vetch-
es, cowpeas and soy beans. This
work is in charge of DR.. Meade
Ferguson, bacteriologist of the
Station. The various cultures
mentioned are now In the course
of preparation 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 resid-
ing in the State on the following
conditions:
Twenty five cents will be
charged for sufficient material to
inoculate oAe acre Of land. This
charge is not made fer the service
of our bacteriologist, but simply to
cover the cost of container for the
solution that can be transmitted
with safety through the mails,
and also to pay postage. All the
labor of inoeulating and preparing
these cultures for distribution in
the State is being borne by the
Station, but the authorities be-
lieve that if the bacteria will ac-
complish anything like the results
claimed for them that persons re-
ceiving the material gratis would
be glad to paw the small charge
imposed for packing and mailing,
which the Station has no legiti-
mate means of meeting, and as
this offer is made to all the far.
mers of the State, it is clear that
the burden would be greater than
the Strengthened finances of the
Station could bear. When the
packages are sent out they will
contain printed directions as to
how to use the bacteria most
effectively. A blank will also be
enclosed and it is expected that
every farmer receiving package |
will report at the end of the grow
ing season to the Station authori-
ties on the results of his work.
This information is desired in Or
der that the effectiveness of soil
incubation for the crops mentioned
may be definitely ascertained.
"The value of incubation be-
comes apparent when it is stated
that farmers can often secure good
stands of alfalfa and are able to
grow the crop fairly well for one
DR. two years, after which it sick
ans and dies. 1t seem as a rule
that when these results follow no
have formed on the roots
If the plants, ard as the bacteria
which give the plant its Eower
If assimilating atmc spheric nitro
zen resides in these nodules, the
cause of death is apparent. The
,reat value of leguminous crops
les in their power to gather at /,
nospheric nitrogen and store it In
he soil through the action of the
just described. There :
ore, the Importance of incubation
'ecomes apparent, for atmospheric :
itrogen can be stored in the soil !
t a very low cost to the farmer,
whereas he has to pay at least Is
ents pound for it in a CONNER a
ial form. The Station believes II
hat in offering these cultures TO :
be farmers that it is doing work "
pronounced value for the ad e
ancement of the agricultural in s
erests of the State. Theee cul- P
ures are guaranteed to be pure
nd true to name, and it is believ- I
d that hundreds of farmers will C
e glad to avail themselves of the a
pportunity presented to test the L
lerits of artificial soil inocula- C
10,