EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



221 



What has been said of the soy bean is true of the cowpea. Here, however, the 

 ^lifference in yield of protein per acre is not so wide and significant. 



III. THE INFLUENCE 01' THE PRESENCE OF XODT'I-ES LPON THE COMPOSITION OF TUE SEED 



OF SOY BEANS. 



In 1904 some investigations were conducted to test the influence of the nodules 

 on the roots on the composition of the ripened seed of two varieties of soy beans. 

 The Medium Green is not certain to mature its seed in this latitude, but did so 

 in 1904. The Ogemaw is an earlier sort, fairly certain to ripen in an average 

 year. Seed was gathered from each of four plots, two inoculated and two not 

 inoculated and were submitted to the chemist for analysis. The results are set 

 forth in the next table. 



FERTILIZER VALUE. 



The influence of the nodules had not spent itself on the growing plant, but 

 carried itself throughout the period of growth, making the ripened seeds of the 

 inoculated soy beans fully 1G% richer in protein than the product of uninoculated 

 areas. 



Whether this increase in protein content will give greater vitality to the. seeds 

 affected or cause the growth of a more vigorous crop the next season remains to 

 be investigated. 



In conclusion of the work of the tv.o years it has been learned that the nodules 

 on the roots, while, on fairly fertile soil, they may not notably increase the yield, 

 do increase the relative and absolute amount of nitrogen in the plants. This in- 

 crease is very important and pronounced. 



