AND COLLEGE, PUSA, FOR 1915-16 97 



method elaborated in this laboratory. Familiarization with 

 the use of this method forms an important part of the train- 

 ing of students in this section and as such students mostly 

 come from the laboratories of Provincial Agricultural 

 Colleges and return there as assistants to the experts 

 engaged in soil investigation, it is hoped that in course of 

 time the method may be adopted as a standard part of such 

 enquiries throughout India. 



V. Programme of work for 1916-17. 



Major subjects. 



1. The decomposition of organic matter in the soil by 

 bacterial action. 



2. The formation of toxins in soil and their relation- 

 ship to fertility. 



Special enquiries. 



3. Saltpetre. Investigation into the conditions under 

 which this salt is formed in the soil with a view to intro- 

 ducing possibly favourable modifications into the present 

 methods of the nuniah. 



4. Fermentation. Further inquiries with regard to 

 fermentation organisms in India. 



5. Silk. Pebrine disease of silkworms in India; an 

 enquiry into the incidence and underlying causes of this 

 disease undertaken at the request of the Imperial Silk 

 Specialist. 



6. Indigo. An enquiry into the bacterial activities 

 associated with the manufacture of indigo undertaken in 

 collaboration with the Indigo Eesearch Chemist. 



Minor subjects. 



7. Bacterial disease of plants. 



8. Biological analysis of soils and elaboration of labora- 

 tory technique in connection therewith. 



9. Training of students. 



