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tested in Alabama. The cause is now revealed, and the cure 

 for such failures in indicated by the results recently obtained 

 in experiments conducted at this Station. 



Four plots, each one-twentieth acre in area, were used for 

 an inoculation experiment with crimson clover in November, 

 1897. The soil was a clay loam, by no means fertile. The 

 four plots used were all in the same terrace, acd all were 

 prepared alike and at the same time. So far as could be 

 learned no clover had previously been grown in this field nor 

 in adjoining fields. Each plot was fertilized with 15 pounds 

 acid phosphate and 2 pounds of muriate of potash. This is 

 at the uniform rate of 300 pounds of acid phosphate and 40 

 pounds of muriate of potash per acre on all plots. No 

 nitrogenous fertilizer was used on any plot. 



One pint of seed of crimson clover was sown on each 

 plot ; this is at the rate of ten quarts of seeds per acre. On 

 account of dry weather seed was not sown until November 5, 

 1897, which was a month later than the preferred season. 



The seed for Plots 1 and 3 was inoculated, that is 

 supplied with clover germs, as follows : 



The seed was moistened with water to which had been 

 added about two teaspoonsful of clover Nitragin. This is a 

 material imported from Germany, and containing myriads of 

 the germs such as are found on the little enlargements cr 

 tubercles that grow on thrifty clover plants. By this means 

 the individual seeds for Plots 1 and 3 were brought in contact 

 with clover germs, or just such germs as the seed would 

 come in contact with if sown on a field where clover had 

 previously grown successfully. The seed of Plots 2 and 4 

 was not moistened, but sown in the usual way. 



As soon as seed was sown on all four plots, a harrow was 

 run over all plots to cover seed. 



On account of late sowing, crimson clover plants en all 



plots made very little growth and all plots appeared alike until 



March, 1898. By this time the plots sown with inoculated seed 



presented a greener appearance, and on examination of the 



plants on the inoculated plots, enlargements or tubercles could 



be found on the roots. These tubercles were not present on 

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