INOCULATION 171 



the chances are that the organisms will soon be 

 generally distributed. It is especially desirable 

 that land be inoculated for alfalfa, if it has not 

 grown alfalfa previously. Clover lands are not 

 often inoculated. 



It often happens that in the growing of such 

 plants as cowpeas and soybeans, the first crop will 

 not show the tubercles, but the second one will be 

 well supplied with them, indicating that the organ- 

 isms may be introduced by means of the seed or 

 the dust that goes with it. Some seedsmen now 

 make it a practice in harvesting soybeans and cow- 

 peas to pull them instead of cutting them, thus 

 mingling more or less of the soil with the seed in 

 the threshing. 



The organisms of different leguminous ci'ops 

 have recently been investigated by the United 

 States Department of Agriculture, ^ and methods 

 devised for providing suitable nutrients for them. 

 As a result, cultures have been prepared and 

 distributed, together with the food necessary for 

 their early growth. The commercial cultures have 

 not yet been successful in practice, however; but 

 eventually good results may be obtained. 



The grower should remember that inoculation of 

 the soil is only one factor in the growth of these 

 plants. Good crops cannot be grown on poor, wet, 

 or acid soils, or under unfavorable culture condi- 



1 Bureau of Plant Industry, Bulletin No. 71, January, 1905. 



