B. P. I.— 605 



ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE NUMBER AND DIS- 

 TRIBUTION OF NATIVE LEGUMES IN NEBRASKA 

 AND KANSAS. 



INTRODUCTION. 



This paper presents a continuation of the observations made in 

 Circular 31 of the Bureau of Plant Industry. It might not be out 

 of place to say here that the counts of plants made in 1909 and also 

 those made in previous years do not include any of the current year's 

 seedlings of perennial species except where they attained such size 

 that they were not readily distinguishable from the old plants. The 

 object has always been to determine the number of established 

 plants. 



In 1909 frequent examinations were made to determine whether 

 all the native legumes were nitrogen gathering. Practically all the 

 prairie species of the region have been examined, and nodules ha;Ve 

 been found in abundance on every one, although they seem to be 

 much more abundant on some species than on others. In some 

 cases no nodules were found on some individuals, but this was 

 probably due to the difficulty in removing the roots from the soil 

 rather than to lack of nodules. 



In general, there seem to be many more nodules on annuals in pro- 

 portion to the size of the root than on perennials. As to the relative 

 quantities of nitrogen gathered by annuals and perennials, no data 

 have yet been obtained. Some cooperative work on this line has 

 been begun, but it has not gone far enough for a report. Some 

 cooperative work was also attempted in reference to cross-inocula- 

 tion to determine whether the native legumes are capable of inocu- 

 lating the soil for clover and alfalfa. This work failed because of 

 bad conditions in the greenhouse. There is no doubt in the writer's 

 mind that several of the native legumes are capable of inoculating 

 our cultivated ones. 



ROOT NODULES ON THE BUFFALO BERRY. 



The writer has examined many nonleguminous plants which on 

 account of their habitats it was suspected might be nitrogen gather- 

 ing, but has failed to find nodules on any except the buffalo berry 

 (Lepargyraea argentea). This shrub has great masses of nodules of all 



(Cir. 70] • 3 



