130 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



the liijlit soils of Lon<j^ Island. Alfalfa has been sown with 

 no application of any kind, with the application of lime 

 alone, and with the application of both lime and soil from 

 the alflilfa fields on the experiment station farm. I should 

 explain that the reason for using lime is the old and some- 

 what persistent view that the bacteria which associate them- 

 selves with the legumes require a soil vnth a neutral or 

 slightly alkaline reaction, rather than one with an acid reac- 

 tion, the latter condition being considered unfavorable for 

 their development. The results of our observations for the 

 season of 1904 are that the application of the alfalfa soil from 

 our alfalfa fields has greatly promoted the welfare of the 

 plants growing on Long Island, but the benefits of lime are 

 not so evident. These observations are ratified by similar 

 ones in other parts of the State and in other States; while, 

 on the other hand, certain experiments show no advantage 

 from soil inoculation, the plants prospering on the experi- 

 mental field without any application whatever. 



The relation of these facts to fertility problems I under- 

 stand to be the following : — 



It has been clearly shown, I think, that leguminous plants, 

 when not supplied with sufficient available soil nitrogen for 

 full development, and when properly associated with certain 

 minute forms of life, have the power of utilizing atmospheric 

 nitrogen. This nitrogen, M^hen stored in the plant, becomes 

 available to subsequent cereal crops either through the ma- 

 nure heap or through the decomposition of the leguminous 

 roots in the soil. We have here a factor in fertility which, 

 to my mind, has received too little consideration at the 

 liands of such scientific prophets as Professor Crookes. I 

 am hopeful that the alfalfa fields of New York will prove 

 to be an important factor in maintaining soil fertility on 

 the nitrogen side. 



Just at this point permit me to suggest a caution in our 

 positive utterances. Much of the teaching from the insti- 

 tute platform, and possibly even the utterances of our colleges 

 and experiment stations, has allowed the inference that all 

 the nitrogen taken up by a leguminous crop, alfalfa, clover 

 or otherwise, is withdrawn frcnn the atmosphere rather than 



