South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-09
BACTERIA NEEDED
TO GROW LEGUMES
Right Kind of Soil Organisms
Can be Supplied by
incubation.

For the most successful growth OF
alfalfa. clover beans. peas, and
other leguminous crops the proper
kinds of bacteria should be abund-
ant in the soil When new legumes
are grown for the first time in a
locality the soil should be inocu-
lated with the proper bacteria by ar
official incubation. In some regions
soils are already supplied with the
proper soil organisms, for example.
In many southern localities artificial
incubation for cowpeas is Unneces-
sary and in sections Of the middle
sest bacteria which thrive on the
roots OF clover md alfalfa are al
ready present.
Artificial incubation can be &C
C0mplished by spreading soil from a
1gell-esta blished field. where the par
ticular legume which is 20 be grown
has been successful. upon the new
land e. be planted with that legume
and also by the use Of pure cultures
OF the proper bacteria. The u. s.
department OF agriculture is pre-
pared 20 supply enough Of the pure
culture 10 inoculate one bushel Of
seed. and this culture can be obtain
cd in bottles which contain complete
directions for use. Application
blanks for these cultures may be OBJ
tanned from the department at
Washington. d. c.. Pure culture can
also be obtained either free or at
small cost. from Michigan College of
Agriculture, East Lansing, Mich.
Too much attention can not be
given 20 the preparation Of the field
for leguminous crops. In a we'll
prepared seed bed the young plants
Get the best start and the necessary
bacteria viii thrive Sour soils hin
der and often entirely prevent the
development Of the beneficial soil
organism. To remedy this condition
an application Of lime is necessary.
Any kind Of lime may he used TO ad-
vantage. but usually finely ground
limestone is applied.
incubation by Soil Transfer.
When "a FIELD is known 10 contain
the bacteria suitable for a certain
iegume crop-for example. alfalfa
shown by the presence Of numerous
nodules upon the roots OF alfalfa
plants growing there. the soil is de
sirable for the incubation OF other
fields upon which alfalfa is to be
sown for the FIRST time Such soil
well sifted. can readily be applied to
the new field through the fertilizer
attachment on a drill Two hundred
pounds or more OF sifted field soil
will be sufficient for an acre and is
best applied through the hoes.
Broadcasting the soil by hand will
require a larger quantity and is best
done in the early morning, late eve
ming or on cloudy days. as the sun :
rays are injurious TO the bacteria in
the thin layer OF inoculated soil thus
exposed TO it, The field should be
Immediately narrowed after broad
casting the soil Transferring field
soil from any considerable distance
is expensive and subject TO the dan
ger OF introducing troublesome
weeds. insects. and plant diseases.
Pure bacteria culture can be OBJ
tanned from the following state col
Ieges and experiment stations
georgia department OF Agriculture,
Atlanta. Ca; Idaho Agricultural Ex-
pertinent station. Moscow. Idaho;
Maryland Agricultural Experiment
station. College Park. Nd; Massachu-
sets Agricultural Experiment sta
ton. Amherst. Mass; Michigan Col
lege OF Agriculture East Lansing
Mich; Missouri Agricultural Expert
ment station Columbia Mo. New
York Agricultural Experiment sta
ton. Ithaca. y. Y. (25 cents charge)
North Carolina Department Of Agri-
culture. Raleigh. y. c.; Oregon Ag-
ricultural Experiment station. Cor
Wallis. ore; South Carolina Depart
ment or Agriculture. Column bia. s. c. !.
Virginia Department Of Agriculture.
Richmond Va; Washington Agri-
cultural Experiment station. Pull
man. Wash; and Wisconsin ACricuI-
ural Experiment station, Madison.