850 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



the same time the insoluble portion of the ash increases. By the suppression of the 

 inflorescence there is a reduction in the proportion of the combined organic acids. 



Localization of thein in the tea plant, A. Nestjlek (Jahresber. Ver. Vertreter 

 Angew. Bol., 190S, p. 54; abs. in Bot. Cenibl, 96 {1904), No. ■'/..', p. 404). — According 

 to the author's summary, thein is not found present in the roots orin all the above- 

 ground organs of the tea plant. 



The sprouting seed of Thea viridis and T. bohea contain in the seed coats as well as 

 in the cotyledons a considerable amount of thein. The thein is present in both old 

 and young stems, but is always localized in the hark and not in the wood. It is also 

 present in the trichomes ami mesophyll of the leaves, and in all parts of the tea 

 flower. The claim that thein is strictly localized in the normal epidermal cells is 

 not correct. 



Soil inoculation for legumes, <<. T. Moore (U. S. Dept. Agr., Bureau of Plant 

 Industry Bui. 71, }>p. 12, pis. 10). — This bulletin gives the results of the author's 

 investigations on the fixation of nitrogen by leguminous plants, a preliminary account 

 of which has been noted (E. S. R., 15, p. 227). It also gives brief reports upon the 

 successful use of artificial cultures by practical tanners. 



After discussing the problems of nitrogen fixation and reviewing considerable lit- 

 erature relative to the subject, the author describes his investigations <>n the isolation 

 and cultivation of the organism concerned in the fixation of nitrogen. The previous 

 attempts at inoculation through cultures or the transfer of soils arc discussed, par- 

 ticular attention being paid to the use of Nitragin, a substance prepared in < rermany, 

 but which appears to have given little satisfaction in this country. 



The nature of the organism of nitrogen assimilation is discussed, as well as its 

 specific characters, and the author finds that on account of the occurrence of the 

 flagellse at one end, the generic name of the organism should he changed, and the 

 name now becomes Pseudomonas radicicola. The effect of varying conditions of light, 

 heat, air, alkalies, acids, etc., on the development of the organism and nitrogen fixa- 

 tion are discussed at some length, and the question of symbiotic or parasitic action 

 is considered. 



Attention is called to the fact that the use of the cultures prepared by the author 

 have in a number of instances been attended with highly beneficial results, even 

 though there were no nodules formed. An examination, however, of some of the 

 smaller roots showed that the organisms were abundant in the cells without having 

 formed the characteristic nodules which have been considered an important factor in 

 nitrogen assimilation. Since the author's investigations were begun about 12,500 

 packages of inoculating material have been distributed throughout the United States, 

 and reports from some of those who received the material are briefly summarized. 

 II is claimed that of 2,500 reports with the principal leguminous crops, failures were 

 reported in only about 26 per cent. 



The author summarizes his investigations, showing that leguminous plants can 

 flourish in soils practically devoid of nitrogen through their ability to obtain atmos- 

 pheric nitrogen by the aid of these micro-organisms, and the effect of legumes on 

 subsequent crops is highly beneficial. Where nitrogen-fixing bacteria are lacking in 

 soils they can be introduced artificially, either by the transfer of soil or by the use 

 of pure cultures of the micro-organisms. In order to increase and maintain the 

 activity of the nodule-forming organisms it is claimed that they must be cultivated 

 on nitrogen-free media. Heat, moisture, alkalinity, available nitrogen in the soil, 

 all have direct effects upon the growth of the bacteria, and the failure to develop 

 nodules may lie in most instances traced to one of these causes. 



The nitrogen is fixed by the bacteria and becomes available by the action of the 

 plant in dissolving and absorbing the combined nitrogen in these organisms. The 

 author claims that there is no true symbiosis between the bacteria and the host plant, 

 the nodule-forming organism being purely parasitic, and unless the plant can over- 



