64 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



reason above alluded to. The attainment of success in this 

 manner, however, requires some few years ; and time is 

 precious. Recognizing this fact, an attempt to propagate 

 the bacteria connected with nitrogen assimilation artificially 

 and to put them upon the market was some few years ago 

 made by Professor Nobbe of Tharandt, Germany. The 

 effort was successful, and the product, under the name JSfitra- 

 gin, has been offered for the past fcAV years by a German 

 firm with which Professor Nobl)e comjileted arrangements for 

 its production and sale. Full particulars concerning jSFitra- 

 gin, and directions for its use, will be found in our eleventh 

 annual report. The unsuccessful results of its trial upon 

 clover in 1897 are published in our last annual report. 



The scientific standing of Professor Nobbe is such and the 

 general importance of the subject so great that further trials 

 and with other plants seemed desirable. Accordingly, nitra- 

 gin for the following species was ordered direct from the 

 makers : crimson clover, red clover, alfalfa, sweet clover, 

 soy bean, vetch and pea. 



The experiments are not yet complete, but are being 

 carried out upon poor plain land hired for the purpose, 

 where most of these crops have never been cultivated, as 

 well as upon our own grounds. The plan of the experiment 

 upon the plain land is shown below'. 



Plan of Nitragin Experiments. 

 The plots are one-twentieth of an acre each, duly sepa- 

 rated by dividing strips. The treatment of the several plots 

 for each crop will be clear from the table : — 



Plot 1, no fertilizers. No nitragin. 

 Plot 2, no fertilizers. Nitragin. 



r acid phosphate, 400 pounds per acre, 'v 

 Plot 3, { muriate of potash, 250 pounds per acre. \ No nitragin. 



Uime, 1,000 pounds per acre, J 



Plot 4, manurial treatment, like Plot 3. Nitragin. 

 Plot 5, same manures as 3, and, in addition, 180 pounds per acre 

 of nitrate of soda. No nitragin. 



The plan upon the home grounds is similar, with two ex- 

 ceptions : (1) The plots are smaller, and (2) there are no 

 plots left unfertilized. 



