201 



however for several weeks, or even for months, before sowing and still 

 retain all its power of growth. 



It has lieen demonstrated that each legume has its own particular 

 kind of bacteria, hence the Department of Agriculture always desires 

 to know Avhat seed is intended to be used. 



These cultures were completed by the spring of 1904 and sent out to 

 12.tHX) farmers in every State in the Union and in many of the foreign 

 countries including New Zealand. South Africa and Australia. This gave 

 every variety of climate and soil for making the test and also all 

 classes of farmers for trying the experiment, whether particularly 

 adapted to such work or not. Of course all did not report the result, but 

 the reports that were sent in showed an increase of TH per cent, in the 

 production. The rate of increase for the different legumes was as follows: 

 Alfalfa. 73 per cent.; red clover. 92 per cent.: garden peas. 87 per cent.: 

 common bean. .SO per cent.; cow pea, 85 per cent.: soy bean. .")! per cent.: 

 hairy vetch. 75 per cent., and crimson clover. 88 per cent. This certainly 

 indicates a remarkable result and plainly shows that there is something 

 in this method of increasing the fertility of the soil. 



My own experiments extend over only the past season. I ordered my 

 supplies in November. 1904. and they were sent to me February 1. 1!KI5. 

 I inoculated four and one-fourth bushels of red clover seed Avith two sup- 

 plies of bacteria. I sowed the seed on 25 acres of land, most of which was 

 in wheat. For comparison I soAved a strip that was not inoculated. The 

 sowing occurred between April 4 and 10. Anxiously I watched the grow- 

 ing seed. As soon as the nodules began to form I could notice more 

 nodules on the inoculated plants than on the uninoculated ones. This 

 increase has continued throughout the season. In comparing the stand of 

 clover with neighboring fields it is plainly seen that it is better, the plants 

 more vigorous and healthful. 



My experiments have not been as successful as I anticipated, yet I 

 feel that it has been very encouraging and that it can be of service to the 

 farmers in southeast Indiana. Many farmers already in various parts of 

 the country have succeeded in getting a stand of clover or alfalfa where 

 it had previously been impossible to get it to grow. 



It might also be stated in this connection that soil which has been 

 growing clover becomes inoculated, and this soil can be sprinkled over 

 another field and it will become inoculated. When the soil is once inocu- 



