The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1921-03-10

nitrogen. The bacteria In the nodul'
are able to take nitrogen from the ali
and convert It into form readily as
simulated by the plant.
The legume, however, Is powerless "a
maintain or Increase soil fertility tc
any greater extent than other common
crops unless the friendly bacteria are
present. IL nodules are not found the
growth of legumes Is limited by the
amount OF plant food In the soil and
production of legume plants results in
depletion Of soil fertility The Nodule-
producing bacteria. when present. or
n not present placed In the soil
through incubation. take care that the
legume does not rob the soil, but act
ually leaves II in better condition than
before.
How May incubation BE Secured?
The infection, or inocuation OF soils
with friendly bacteria, capable Of pro-
ducing nodules on legumes may be Sc
the soil and pure-culture methods are
the most common. The soil method
consists of removing sol from a field
known to contain the desired bacteria
and spreading 1t on the field that Is
to be inoculated. About one inch of the
top soil is scraped off and the ex-
posed portion removed to the depth Of
the pillow line. The soil. approximately
400 pounds per acre. should be dfill.
ed to insure Its even distribution and
incorporation into the soil but should
the soil be broadcasted. harrow must
be used Immediately to cover, os the
rays Of the sun will quickly Kill the
exposed bacteria cells Naturally, this
method has many disadvantages, such
az time and labor required, and the
ever present danger OF transmitting
plant diseases Because of these facts |
the use OF pure cultures is suggested |
A pure culture Is growth of bac-
terra that contains only certain
strain for family of organisms. Cul-
lures for legumes are grown from a |
single bacterial cell obtained from the /
interior Of nodule, and are free from
all other types OF organisms. They are
capable Of producing nOdules on the
roots OF the same variety, or related
varieties Of legumes, from which they
have been isolated. Pure cultures of
all kinds are ON sale for the inoculation
OF legumes. Some Of these are sold in
the form of sterilized jelly. others I'm
liquids, and still others In steriliz.A5
soil. furthermore, the culture may he
sold under claim that 1t Is a mixed
culture, containing all the kinds OF
bacteria for inoculatlng legumes. and
In addition, other forms OF friendly
bacteria. All of these cultures are mix
ga win more or less water or other
liquids and are sprinkled over the
seed that is to he planted. thus inoc-
ulating the seed and indirectly the
soil. The cultures furnished nv tho
Idaho Experiment Station are grown
on nutrient jelly and supplied to the
farmer in units sufficient for three
acres at a cost OF rs cents per unit.
Full directions are furnished with
each unit for the preparation of cul-
ture and treatment of seed.
Last year the Department of Rae
teriology sent out cultures for the In
oculation OF 1921 acres. MANY far.
ners have written to the Department
commencing the culture and desiring
more Tor the next year Estimates OF
benefits from its use are from q nor
cent to 90 per cept In the majority NJ
cases and one farmer wrote that his
beans and peas were no good except
wnere inoc0lated and there they were
rihe' commercial firms prepare these
at cost to the farmer Of
pi.oV per acre up. Certain companies
through their agents. sold largo
acreage In Southern Idaho last wear
at two dollars per acre. making ex.t
ravagant claims for their cultures
u rs important to bear In mind that
'ur culture is just as efficient 40
nat prepared by commercial firms
md probably more so, and that we sell
ne culture at cost Of preparation. sal.
'ries Of the department coming from
'tner sources. The 1921 acres cent
ue by Us last year brought $s,so2 TX
approximate cost of materials and
PREPARATION. This acreage at $500 ner
ere amounts to $26,422OO. which
nows net saving of (s2e, 400 asa
o2.75) $2s,1i925 to the farmers 50
urins culture from the Experiment
'tation.
.nocuiauon Is not necessary in ali
'eids being seeded to iegumes In
-se me same iegume was grown
roo lona three to five years previous ON
Ne same field. Inocu,ation is nm.
eoessary' Irrigated sectsOas In sener,