QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 45 



243. Q. After a field is inoculated by bringing to it and incorporating soU 



with its surface soil some soil from another field, known to be inhabited inoculation. 

 by bacteria or microbes, what is the subsequent action ? 



A. The bacteria or organisms, if they be the right kind, cause, by some 

 unknown process, the roots of the plants to develop minute nodules or 

 tubercles, which, by some action, absorb nitrogen from the air and hold 

 it. Four-fifths of the atmosphere is nitrogen. Consequently there is an 

 unlimited supply, and if this new scientific discovery can be more thor- 

 oughly understood the entire system of agriculture may be revolution- 

 ized as completely as electricity has overturned former systems now obso- 

 lete. 



244. Q. Are wrinkled and flattened varieties of peas sweeter and more Peas. 

 delicate than smooth round-seeded sorts ? 



A. The shriveled form of certain pea seed is indicative of a sugary 

 quality, just as the shriveled grains of sugar-corn distinguish its quality 

 from the more starchy field corns. Many of the wrinkled peas possess a 

 shelly hull, which, to some people, make them less desirable than the 

 Landreth Extra Early or the Bloomsdale pea. Wrinkled half-flat peas 

 never seem to possess the same germinative force as hard round peas. 



245. Q. What are the best plants for green manuring ? Green 



A. All vigorous growers, which can be plowed under, have a decided Manuring. 

 fertilizing influence upon soil, as the turning under returns to the upper 

 soil all that the plant had drawn from depths below ; but if to this can be 

 added a stock of fertility derived from the air, immense gain is made. 

 Now this can be realized by growing plants of the leguminous family, 

 as Red clover. Crimson clover. Alfalfa, Cow peas, lupins, all of which, 

 beside being potash finders, have the faculty of drawing nitrogen from 

 the air, and adding to the soil that which it did not possess before. 



246. Q. Why is inoculation of soils advised? Soil 



A. To start a growth of bacteria, such as desired. One of the latest dis- inocalation. 

 coveries in agriculture is that different kinds of plants, notably those of 

 the leguminous family, are aided in their growth by distinct forms of 

 bacteria or microbes. Novr, a field which has had upon it a crop of 

 beans, continues for a time to support the bean microbe, but beans sown 

 upon a new field, however rich in potash or phosphoric acid, may want 

 , nitrogen, which can be obtained in considerable quantity from the air if 

 plenty of microbes be present in the soil. By inoculating this new field 

 through a top-dressing of soil from the old bean field, the development 

 of microbes can be greatly advanced and the bean crop enlarged through 

 nitrogen stolen from the air. 



247. Q. Is the greatest productiveness found in green or wax-podded Beans. 

 beans ? 



A. As a rule, in green-podded sorts; but some wax pods are exceedingly 

 prolific, but when most so it is at a loss of quality. 



248. Q. How can I kill crows and sparrows ? Crows. 

 A. Soak corn in strychnine water. 



