SOIL INOCULATION 833 



the first attempts were unsuccessful, references are still found in recent 

 literature concerning the use of similar preparations. It is claimed 54 

 that B. ellenbachensis a and alinit-bacillus a will allow luxuriant growth 

 of grain crops without the addition of nitrogenous fertilizers. Various 

 other preparations (A. Kiihn's U-cultures, All-crop Inoculant, Inoculin) 

 have been placed on the market for the inoculation of cultivated plants 

 other than legumes. The results have so far proved negative. 



It still remains to be seen whether the inoculation of soil with strong 

 cellulose-decomposing bacteria can stimulate the processes of decompo- 

 sition of organic matter in the soil. 



We need also mention here again the results of Hartley 55 showing that 

 soils partially sterilized by means of heat or volatile antiseptics will 

 benefit by the inoculation with saprophytic fungi. These fungi develop 

 rapidly in the soil and thus prevent development of parasitic fungi 

 causing the damping off of forest seedlings. If a soil is infested with 

 injurious nematodes, it may be benefited by inoculation with predatory 

 nematodes. 56 



64 Daude. Impfung von Feldern mit Bakterien. Blatt. Zuckerriiben., 25: 

 156. 1919; 26: 30, 45, 176. 1919; Centrbl. Bakt. II, 53: 408. 1921. 

 "Hartley, 1921 (p. 000). 

 " Steiner and Heinley, 1925 (p. 347). 



