394 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



doubt that the nitrogen obtained by the })lants came from the 

 air. 



Professor Beijerinck * of Amsterdam tirst succeeded in 

 isolating the bacteria that produced the root nodules, and 

 called it bacterium radkicula. Prazmowski succeeded in 

 isolating the bacteria shortly afterward, and has given us a 

 great deal of information relative to its life history and its 

 relation to the root tubercles. f 



The work at the Bernburg station accomplished by Pro- 

 fessor Hclh'iegel is therefore a very important one. The 

 farmers the world over, nay, all mankind, are, I believe, 

 greatly indebted to the patient investigator, the modest 

 gentlemen. Professor Hellriegel, and to his able assistant, 

 Dr. Wilfarth. 



The fact once confirmed, viz., that the leguminous plants 

 are capable of utilizing atmospheric nitrogen, the (piestions 

 that would naturally arise Avould be the following: (1) 

 can the results obtained in a small way, by means of pot ex- 

 periments, be applied in i)ractical farming? and, (2) if they 

 can, ought any nitrogen whatever to be used in growing 

 leguminous crops? While I confess to be going rather out- 

 side the limits of my subject, I wish, however, to present 

 the general European opinion in as few words as i)ossible. 

 In answering the tirst question, I will give you an account 

 of' an experiment that is being tried by a practical and 

 well-informed farmer in southern Germany. $ The farm in 

 (juestion had been used formerly for milk production. The 

 entii'e stock of animals was disposed of, and the proprietor 

 tui'ned his attention to growing grain, sugar beets and po- 

 tatoes, depending u[)()n the leguminous crops for his entire 

 sup])ly of nitrogen. The soil was an average loam, fairly 

 i-icli in lime. Tlu», system pursued was as follows : imme- 

 diately alter liarNcsting the grain, peas and vetch were 

 sown broadcast on the ploughed stubbles, at the rate of 180 



• Botanische Zeitung, No. 48, November, 1888, Die Bac. der Papilionaceen 

 Kncillchen von M. "W. Beijerinck. 



t For a very excellent rC'Sunic of the work thus far accomplished in this direction, 

 the interested reader is referred to a revi^'W by Prof. 11. W. Conn, in the Kxi)eri- 

 ment Station Record, June, 1891, p 686, and August, 1891, p. 56; also to a r6sum6 

 of F. Noljlie's work, ibid., p. .'i.'5G. 



X See Die Stickstoffdiinguiif,' der Landwirthschaftlichen Kulturpflanzen I Theil 

 von Prof. Dr. Paul Wagner, 1892, p. 282. 



