138 MEADOWS AND PASTURES 



Methods of Inoculation. The bacteria are readily 

 enough grown in cultures, and these cultures may be sent 

 in liquid form to the man sowing seed of new legumes 

 on soil needing inoculation. The liquid culture is diluted 

 with additional water and the seed wet and sown. This 

 has usually been found effective. Dry cultures are not 

 often successful. The drying of the organism seems 

 usually to deprive it of its vitality. Soil may be taken 

 from a field where the legume grew and developed tuber- 

 cles. This soil may be scattered over the new field and 

 at once harrowed in to prevent the bacteria drying and be- 

 ing killed by sunlight. This method has given better re- 

 sults thus far than any other. There are several ways 

 of using this method of soil inoculation. If one is inocu- 

 lating a field near another field that has already good in- 

 oculation one can take earth and spread it with the ma- 

 nure spreader. This is the best method where soil is in 

 abundant supply. Follow the spreader close with some 

 efficient harrow that will cover the soil from sunlight. 

 It seems that either sunlight or drying will usually de- 

 stroy the bacteria. It is well, then, when it can be done, 

 to apply the soil after 4 o'clock in the afternoon and at 

 once follow with the harrow, stirring it into the soil. 

 Where soil is harder to secure one may sow a very small 

 amount and yet get inoculation, if only it is well spread 

 and carefully covered. ' Often in sowing alfalfa seed I 

 have directed the use of 100 pounds of soil mixed with 20 

 pounds of seed, the two sown together. This has given 

 good inoculation. Or, one may make one's soil fine by 

 sifting, wet the seed and mix with it soon after wetting 



