CROPS AND SOIL IMPROVEMENT 



used in order that the chance of quick inoculation 

 may be increased. The soil should be spread 

 when the sun's rays are not hot, and covered at 

 once with a harrow, as drying injures vitality. 

 The soil may be broadcasted by hand or applied 

 with a fertilizer distributer. The work may be 

 done at any time while preparing the seed-bed. 

 The bacteria will quickly begin to develop on the 

 roots of the young plants, and nodules may be 

 seen in some instances before the plants are four 

 weeks old. 



Pure cultures may be used for inoculation. 

 Some commercial concerns made failures and 

 brought the use of pure cultures into disrepute a 

 few years ago, but methods now are more nearly 

 perfect, and it is possible to buy the cultures of 

 all the legumes and to use them with success. 



Prices continue too high to make the pure cul- 

 tures attractive to those who can obtain inocu- 

 lated soil with ease. If land has been producing 

 vigorous plants, and if it contains no weeds or 

 disease new to the land to be seeded, its soil offers 

 the most desirable means of transferring the 

 bacteria. 



The claim is made by some producers of pure 

 cultures that their bacteria are selected for virility, 



[44] 



