Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-15

and alfalfa. That Is, as a general
thing each legume has a bacteria
peculiar to itself.
Soil From A Successful Field Best
One. of the best methods for inocula-
ton is to secure soil from an old alfal-
ia field. or when sweet clover has
been growing for a number of years.
If this sweet clover n alfalfa has
made a good growth in all probability
the soil about these plants will be we'll
supplied with these bacteria.
There are several methods of apply
ing the soil to the seed. The method
used by some Of the Better Farming
Agnts is to secure soil from an old
and successful alfalfa field, or where
sweet clover has grown. This is dried
in the shade, passed through a screen
to remove all the Jumps and trash,
and then with one bushel of this dirst
thoroughly mix the amoun of alfalfa
seed to be sown on one acre-eight
or ten pounds. This can be sown with
the regular grain drill, the same az
wheat or oats. BY watching the drill
for a short time it a be regulated
so as to SOW the proper amount per
acre. This method is somewhat detri-
mental to the drill, but is a most sat.
isfactory way Of distributing the in
fected soil.
Another very common method is to
secure the dirt as above stated, and
SOW two to four hundred pounds per
acre broadcast over the field, lust be-
fore or after the alfalfa seed has been
sown. and then thoroughly harrow
this in Immediately. The p%recaution
must be taken to keep this soil away
from direct sunlight, as the bacteria
are soon killed when exposed to
bright sunlight. Consequently if the
soil is sown broadcast it should be
narrowed Immediately, or preferably
should be sown on a cloudy day or late
in the evening. s.
There are also on the market many
artificial cultures, which if secured
while fresh, may be used to advan.
tagc. These come with full instruction
n are more convenient to use thar
the soil methods. Some of them are
simply thoroughly infected soil tina,
is mixed with water and sugar or q
little molasses to make it adhere te
the seed, and treated as previously de.
scribed.
IN the, l. H. c. Farm at Grand
Forks, in 1913. we tried out all the
available kinds. Of inoculating ma.
terial. and apparently secured goot
results from all of them. However
as there is sweet clover growing il
the vicinity of Grand Forks there an.
parently was not much. advantage il
the incubation, as there appeared t
be a sufficient number Of these BAG,
terra in our soils. We noticed, how
ever, that where the pure culture,
were used and the seed treated befor,
seeding, when these plants were duf
up there was a very large number o.
nodules just at the point of inocuia.
ton, while on the rootlets further
from this they were very scattering
This is also true on the plants not in,
oculated. but we observed that on tn.
plants that were not artificially in
"crlated, The tubercles were usual,
much larger.
It is apparent that where, there ar,
only a few Of these bacteria in tn,
soil. and they come in contact will
the rootlets, they will increase in sit,
and be able to supply the plant witt
nitrogen needed. whilc il there are /:
great many bacteria there will be {
large number of small tubercles form
ed. There would apparently be al
advantage in having a large number
Of nodules. rather than a few larg,
ones. 1t is also probable that in al
soils there are a few bacteria which
in time adapt themselves to the root.
of these legumes, or there may b,
some. Of tho bacteria peculiar to al
legumes in all soils. but If 50 it ap,
parently takes them a long time K
become accustomed to the plants, ant
consequently we have the two or thre.
years often required by alfalfa to be
come we'll established.
The .tubercles on the differen
plants vary In size from so small tina;
they can hardly be seen.s to as larg,
as a walnut. On the alfalfa and swee
i clover, where the soil In thorough,
in~oculated, they will usually not b,
larger than small. grains of wheat, al
Though there may be clusters Of then
considerably larger. These tubercle,
are simply the homes of the bacteria
and each tubercle may contain. mil
liOnssof them.
The process by which these nitrogen
fixing bacteria utilize the atmosphere,
nitrogen is quite complicated, AM
doubtless not 10 thoroughly under
stood % II might be. It ID sufficien
for us TO know that 10 very essentis
that these bacteria be present in tn,
soil IL we expect. to get full result
and benefits from y leguminou,
crops. II y stated that these bacteri,
which mayFscollect from TWENTY-FIVE
tn fifty dollars worth OF atmospherf,
nitrogeI1 on every acra Of soil. mo
only work 3 nothing ana boars
themselves, but for the priv
! the nextsarttcie.) I