THE NEW EARTH 



for hay and pasturage, and for plowing under 

 for green manure to restore the soil. It was 

 found that satisfactory results could not be 

 obtained because of the absence from the soil 

 of the bacteria which make their home upon 

 the vetch. So, from a garden in which had 

 once been grown the common vetch which 

 had had the nodules upon its roots, a supply 

 of earth was taken, mixed up with water and 

 allowed to settle. Seed of the hairy vetch was 

 then dipped in the water and planted. 



The result of this liquid inoculation was 

 remarkable. Two plots were planted, one with 

 inoculated seed, one with uninoculated. In 

 January the plants which had been treated 

 were standing strong and thrifty, a rich green 

 in color, while the plot not inoculated was 

 sere and brown. The roots of the inoculated 

 plants were well supplied with nodules, while 

 the non-inoculated plants bore not a single 

 tubercle. In the latter part of May, at har- 

 vest time, the inoculated plot was so heavy 

 in its growth that it had to be cut with a 

 scythe, while the other was so short that a 

 sickle was used. On the plots inoculated with 

 the bacteria from the garden soil, not only were 



42 



