12 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



utilised as a source of nitrogen by the bacteria themselves. 

 These considerations tend to show what great care should 

 be exercised in a tropical country like India in the treat- 

 ment of the soil, if its supplies of plant food are not to be 

 dissipated or wasted, and it also confirms the opinion which 

 is now ripening into positive fact, that the study of the 

 biologic factor in soils is of supreme importance, and that 

 very important results are to be expected from it. 



A special enquiry, also, is proceeding into the conditions 

 determining the formation of bacterio-toxins in soils, and 

 into their effect on crops. 



10. Trainmg— The training of students on the lines 

 laid dowm in the Prospectus was continued, and short 

 courses were also given in Cattle and Poultry manage- 

 ment. Sericulture and Lac cultivation. Of the two post- 

 graduate students in Agricultural Chemistry, admitted in 

 the previous year, one continued his course, but the training 

 of the second was terminated, as he was considered not 

 likely to prove himself an efficient assistant. The two stu- 

 dents in Entomology, mentioned in the previous year's 

 report, left during the year ; one after completing his course, 

 and the other before its completion, as he was recalled to his 

 province. The Assistant Director of Agriculture, Punjab, 

 who was deputed to this Institute for a two years' course 

 in general agriculture, completed his training on 21st 

 August 1911, and returned to his province. 



During the year under report four new students were 

 admitted for training in Agricultural Chemistry. Of 

 these, two are Government stipendiaries (one from Bengal 

 and one from the Travancore State) and two are private 

 students. A private student deputed by the Department 

 of Agriculture, Travancore, was admitted, for training in 

 general entomology. The Agricultural Department of 

 Bihar and Orissa have deputed an Entomological and 

 Mycological Collector for training in Mycology and Ento- 

 mology. One advanced student from the Agricultural 

 Department of the Central Provinces was given training, 



