Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-03-16
INCUBATION
OF THE SOIL
PROF. ATKINSON, OF EXPERIMENT
STATION, THROWS LIGHT ON
SUBJECT.

SUBJECT.
The following important article is
by Prof. Atkinson, of the experiment
station at Bozeman, and tells Of the
methods and principles that have to
90 with the addition of nitrogen gath
erlng organisms to the soil:
During the year 1904 the depart
ment of agriculture developed, tested,
and patented a process by which nj
trogen-gathering germs may be trans
ferred from one part of the country
to another, and supplied to soil in
which they may be deficient Since
that time numerous incubation en-
quiries have reached the experiment
station, and it is in the hope that farm.
ers may gain clearer understanding
of this phase of the soil bacteria sit
uation, that a short explanation is of.
fered at this time.
nitrogen gathering germs to the soil
is practiced only when a leguminous
crop is to be grown. These legumi-
nous crops, such as clover, alfalfa
peas, etc, require large amount Of
nitrogen for growth Since this ele-
ment does not exist naturally in the
soil. but has to be added from the
atmosphere, the legumes experience
difficulty in getting sufficient sup
ply for growth. To overcome this dis
advantage they have associated with
them certain organisms which make
their home On the roots. These or
ganisms or germs build up their bodies
from the atmospheric nitrogen, and as
they multiply and decay rapidly much
nitrogen is added to the soil for use
by the growing plants.
Investigations reveal the fact that
nitrogen gathering germs are not
present in all soils. When absent
legumes are deprived of the nitrogen
supply which comes from the decay.
ing germ bodies and usually succumb
for lack Of this food element 1t is in
such soils that incubation may prove
of value.
Since bacteria are small plants
which multiply rapidly when placed
under favorable conditions, the meth
OF of preparing the incubation ma
terial is to secure the desired bacteria
from the roots of legumes where they
are growing, and grow them under
conditions where they may be fully
controlled From these growths OF
| cultures" solutions of water and nj
Z. trogen free chemicals are then started
After two or three days the liquit
which has milky appearance, from
the rapid multiplication of the germs
is used to saturate absorbant cotto,
l. and the cotton is rapidly dried. Thi
t cotton is then done up in packages
j. These, with certain packages of chem
f lcals are sent to the "inoculation ma
e terial applicant" In following the d
t rectons he simply restores the dorm
e ant bacteria to active growth: allow
h them to multiply, and gets them int
J. his soil by soaking the seed befor
= sowing. If the soil conditions ar
e favorable, the germs multiply rapid
a and spread over an entire field.
Y After having demonstrated the fes
J. oibility of this method Of distrfbutin
: bacteria, the department of agricultur
l. discontinued sending out the package
h in 1905 Immediately a number G
:. companies were organized for the pul
s. pose of supplying the farmer with thi
= great aid to agriculture. OF these
# the National Nitro.Culture company /
e the largest firm doing business at tn
O present time. This company adverti
,, es to supply incubation material fc
e the different legumes at a price not e,
J. ceeding $500 per acre in each case.
|. The New York experiment static
has recently published bulletin
# which is reported the results of test
e conducted to determine the value
e soil incubation packages as sold du
{, ing 1905. The results are from test
" carried on in the laboratories of fly
" different experiment stations and al
N consequently quite reliable. The
IS snow that many of the packages so
d. during 1905 gave no results even whe
III the directions were followed mo
I'd carefully. This is not necessarily d,
IN to dishonesty on the part of the ma
al ufacturer. as the same difficulty W;
n. noted in packages prepared by Il
* department of agriculture. The tro
h. BILE seems to lie in the method of pl
pairing the material and putting
SO the packages. AS put up at preser
ge they are not protected against sud-,
nd changes of neat and cold, and as
M consequence the germs die or lose
i'd tality, so that they do not devel'
of satisfactorily when used as indie,
e. ell by the directions
le- In the same bulletin results a
he given which show that these bact.
at ia when laboratory prepared 10
N. their vitality very rapidly. This
to dicates that with the present meth
Sc of preparation. the age of the cultu
ds is one of the important factors.
ha summing up his conclusions the =