THE ACQUISITION OF ATMOSPHERIC NITROGEN. ' 1 29 



Jaspers* cites a statement by Yon Landsberg, that the lupine 

 thrives without inoculation on land which has grown broom 

 (Sarothamas scoparius.) He thinks that the organism causing 

 root tubercles may sink deep into the soil and retain its vitality 

 for a long time. In proof of this theory he cites the observa- 

 tion that lupines flourished even at the bottom of deep cuts 

 along the railroad. 



This position is directly contrary to that before expressed, 

 viz.: That the bacteria are diffused but slightly through the 

 soil. 



PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS. 



Soil inoculation may be accomplished either by distributing 

 some material containing the specific germs over the soil or by 

 bringing the seeds in contact with the germs before planting; 

 thus assuring the presence of bacteria when the roots first start. 

 The material used may be either soil in which leguminous plants 

 of the same or a closely related kind have previously been 

 grown ; or tubercles from such plants ; or it may be a pure cul- 

 ture in gelatin of the specific bacteria required. 



The prepared culture, sold as Nitragin or Germ Fertilizer is 

 made in Germany and may be obtained of Yictor Koechl & Co., 

 79 Murray Street, New York. Cultures for pea, clover, vetch 

 and various other legumes are made. 



Our experience at the Experiment Station in the inoculation 

 of soils with specific bacteria has been limited, but in the case of 

 the soja bean decided results were obtained. 



Until the present season soja beans were never grown in the 

 station garden, therefore it was safe to assume that none of the 

 bacteria peculiar to the plant were present in the soil. 



June 14, a quantity of soja beans was planted in drills and 

 with the seed a number of tubercles from the previous year's 

 crop at the Storrs Experiment Station, were scattered. In con- 

 tiguous rows, the same variety of bean was planted without 

 tubercles. The crop was cut by frost before maturity so no 

 weights were obtained, but on October 14, the following results 

 were noted : 



1. The plants from the inoculated soil were more stocky and 

 of a darker color than those from the adjacent rows. 

 *Deut. landw. Presse. 22 (1895), No. 28, p. 266. 



