Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-03-23
soII lnoeuIatIon 70 pate.

Within the past year much has been
heard through government bulletins,
magazine articles, and the newspapers
about the inocuIation Of the soil with
beneficial bacteria. This means. speci-
fically, that a way has been discovered
for introducing into the soil, by means
Of cultures, bacteria which attack the
roots Of leguminous plants-peas beans,
clover, and the like-and cause the for
nation on these roots Of nodules in which
nitrogen is stored and where it is held
to feed successive crops Of plants. Many
experiments were made with these cul-
lures in all parts of the country last
year. Some OF these experiments were
made here at home, but the results were
not definite enough to warrant any
fixed conclusions. For the various rea-
sons here suggested this summary Of
experiments and conclusion to date,
printed in the last number OF the scien-
tifc American, is worth reproducing,
Great interest was aroused among
agrlcuturists in this country by the new
| ly-developed incubation process OF sup
plying bacteria for the promotion of the
better growth and nitrogen gathering
powers OF legumes The investigations
undertaken by the department Of agri-
culture were apparently crowned with
success and much was expected from this
method In the betterment OF agricultural
conditions. From bulletin lately issued
by the New York agricultural experiment
station, at Geneva, N. Y, II appears
however, that these commercial cultures
for iegumes are exceedingly unreliable.
The station undertook a series Of ex-
haustive tests in consequence OF the
numerous inquiries which were received
as to the quality OF the commercial pack
ages OF the culture, and the results were
anything but favorable: not only so far as
the commercial product was concerned,
but In the case. as well, OF the package
received from the government. These ex-
tended and careful tests in five different
iabora tories, using many packages of the
cotton prepared at different times, kept
under favorable conditions. all COM
paratively fresh, and used in ac-
cordance with the directions, appeared to
prove that such packages are worthless
for practical incubation. This must not
be ascribed TO dishonesty on the part Of
the company preparing the cotton. for.
as mentioned above the department
package tested gave no better growth
than the commercial specimens. The
trouble lies in the method itself The
legume inoculating bacteria, dried on cot
ton and exposed for a limited time to the
ordinary changes OF the temperature and
humidity, die or lose vitality so that they
do not develop satisfactorily when used
as indicated by the directions. That such
cultures rapidly deteriorate on cotton un-
der laboratory conditions was proven by
preparing fresh, vigorous cultures, satu-
rating cotton with the bacteria charged
liquid. drying the cotton, and testing por-
tions Of II from time to time. In the
earlier examinations. within a week or so
after drying. a few colonies would de-
velop, but generally the culture plates
were found practically sterile at the end
OF seven days.
These experiments. with their surpris-
| ing and disappointing results, do not con-
denim incubation. They merely show
how and why many recent attempts to
| inoculate legumes have failed. Inocula-
ton as such has not come into question at
all; as II cannot be considered inocula-
ton unless living and vigorous bacteria
are brought into contact with the plant to
be inoculated- The use OF the dried cot
ton cultures has been in most cases only
an unsuccessful attempt to inoculate.
The principle OF incubation remains un-
changed. There can be no doubt that the
introduction OF bacteria where lacking
and under proper conditions for their
growth win benefit legumes. But It Is
certain that the commercial packages of
cotton as distributed in 1905 are not re-
liable agencies to secure such incubation.