228 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



MR. DRAKE: Will land produce a good crop of clover wlion the 

 bacteria are not present in the soil? 



PROF. ROBINSON: Yes, if there is sufficient nitrogen in the soil 

 for the plants to feed on, a good crop may be produced, but growth 

 is more normal and healthy when the bacteria are present to assist. 



MR. NAGINEY: What time would you recommend for sowing 

 inoculated seed and soil for alfalfa? 



PROF. ROBINSON: Probably late in the spring would be the best 

 time for sowing for this latitude, although fall sowing of alfalfa 

 has done very well in many cases. 



MR. WAGNER: Would not the best culture for alfalfa be culti- 

 vated by growing Bokhara or sweet clover in a clean healthy soil? 



PROF. ROBINSON: Provided the other conditions of the soil were 

 suitable, the sweet clover bacteria would favor the alfalfa. 



MR. GLOVER: In this latitude would you prefer a seeding of 

 alfalfa in spring or fall and with or without a nurse crop? 



PROF. ROBINSON: At the ordinary time of sowing in this lati- 

 tude, without a nurse crop. Be sure to have it free from weeds. 

 It is probable that late spring sowing is preferable for this latitude, 

 although in many cases it has been shown that alfalfa does very well 

 when sown in the fall. 



PROF. SURFACE: How long will the bacteria exist in the soil 

 without leguminous roots on which to multiply? 



PROF. ROBINSON: Probably from four to five years. That is 

 a matter that has never been thoroughly worked out; it is very 

 hard to say. 



MR. MILLER: Can we get cultures from the National Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture at anytime? 



PROF. ROBINSON: Well, for instance, just at present we are 

 unable to promise them; up to July 1, we have listed ahead prac- 

 tically all that we can send out. More will be sent out this fall, how- 

 ever. 



MR. SEEDS: Can you tell why it is that some legumes do well 

 and prosper without getting nodules on the roots? 



PROF. ROBINSON: It must be because they have an adequate 

 amount of nitrogen in the soil. 



PROF. BUTZ: What can you say as to the character of the 

 cultures that are sent out bv the seed houses? 



