Ja>-. 1897.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 23 



Experiments with Lucerne and Broad Eed Clover. 



Here each plot measured 24 ft. by 9 ft., a path 2h ft. 

 wide being left between adjoining plots. Three ounces of 

 seed were employed for each plot of lucerne, and Ih oz. 

 for each clover plot. In neither case were the plots 

 duplicated. The produce was weighed green immediately 

 after cutting, with the following result. 



In neither case did the Xitragin benefit the plants, 

 the uninoculated produce being heavier by 2*9 per cent, in 

 the case of the lucerne, and 2*8 per cent, in the case of 

 the clover, than that grown upon inoculated ground. 



It will thus be seen that only in the case of the peas 

 did the application of Xitragin result in an increase in the 

 yield, but in any case the variations in the weights of 

 of produce are too small to make it possible to say 

 definitely that the inoculating substance had affected 

 growth either one way or another. 



These experiments were carried out in a garden attached 

 to the College, in which it may be assumed that peas and 

 beans have frequently been cultivated during recent years. 

 As the soil will thus be well supplied with the bacteria 

 that associate with the roots of these plants, it is not 

 surprising that the application of a pure culture of these 

 bacteria should have been inoperative. But as regards red 

 clover and lucerne, it may safely be assumed that neither 

 of these plants has ever been cultivated in the garden, and 

 the probability is that not a single plant of lucerne ever 

 grew in the garden or indeed in any fields in the neigh- 

 bourhood. The conditions, therefore, were to be regarded 

 as distinctly favourable for exhibiting the action of the 

 specific bacteria of these plants, and yet they faild to 

 produce any effect. 



