lllOd.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 77 



10. Work in Progress. 



MoJ asses and Molasses Feeds. — Work is in progress to 

 determine the digestibility and com})arative value and place 

 in the farm economy of Porto Rico molasses and molasses 

 feeds. Feeds of this character are being freely advertised 

 and sold in our local markets. It is hoped to bring this 

 work to a close early in the new year, and to report the 

 results in bulletin form within a short time thereafter. 



jSfitro-Gultures for Legumes, — The United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture has called attention to the value of the 

 cultures produced by its expert, Dr. Moore, for the different 

 leguminous crops. Hellriegel of Germany was the first to 

 scieniitically demonstrate the symbiotic action of bacteria 

 wath the legumes, resulting in the fixation of atmospheric 

 nitrogen. This subject has been given a great deal of study 

 by many other scientists, particularly by Nobl)e and his co- 

 workers, who have isolated and prepared cultures suited to 

 the different varieties of legumes. Moore claims that he 

 has succeeded in isolating and developing varieties of bac- 

 teria that are especially active as nitrogen gatherers. This 

 department has secured the Moore cultures for two years, 

 and used them upon alfalfa, soy beans and cow peas. The 

 directions were carefully followed in all cases, but no partic- 

 ular results were obtained that could be attributed directly 

 to the action of the a})plied cultures. The yields for the soy 

 bean and cow pea plots receiving the cultures were no greater 

 than those not receiving them, neither did the plots thus 

 treated show any noticeable increased nodular development. 

 A newly seeded piece of alfalfa, inoculated with soil from an 

 old alfalfa field, seemed to receive a decided help from the 

 treatment, judging from the growth and apparent vigor of 

 tlie plants. The writer would in no way condemn the Moore 

 cultures, knowing the progress that has been achieved by 

 numerous investigators along this line. Farmers may try 

 the Moore cultures in a small way, but should not be disap- 

 pointed if the results are not as expected. The daily press 

 and popular journals have made altogether too extravagant 



