52 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



nature of bacteriological research, a lengthy course of 

 training and wide experience of the methods in use is 

 necessary before any student can hope to do research work 

 of any value on this subject, and I wish to record my 

 emphatic opinion that in view of the admitted fact that 

 adequate knowledge of the bearing of the biological factor 

 on soil fertility is of prime importance in agricultural 

 practice, it is highly expedient that the work of this Section 

 should be facilitated by the addition of a trained Super- 

 numerary to my staff. 



Programme of work for 1910-11. — In addition to the 

 work indicated in the following programme already sub- 

 mitted to the Board in February, certain special subjects 

 for investigation will be taken up as occasion arises and 

 opportunity permits. Of these, the further work necessary 

 on the disease of Eri Silk Worms, and any special work on 

 bacterial diseases of plants, will be leading features. 



The Biological aspects of tillage in Indian soils. — This 

 will involve investigations extending over a prolonged 

 period, the basis of which would include a general investi- 

 cration of the bacterial content of Indian soils. 



Concurrently with this general investigation special 

 observations will be made with the intention of determining 

 the biological factors underlying certain problems of agri- 

 cultural interest such as those connected with the custom 

 of embanking wheat lands. They will also include en- 

 quiries into : — 



(1) The biological aspects of the availability of 



plant food in soils. 



(2) The biological factors concerned in the decom- 



position of organic matter in Indian culti- 

 vated soils. 



(3) Biological aspects of : — 



(a) Green manuring in India. 

 (h) " Weathering " of soils, 

 (c) Effect of ploughing land when too wet, 

 before sowing. 



