IT4 RECLAIMING LOST NITROGEN 
simply inoculating the new soil with soil where the legume has 
previously grown. Alfalfa, for example, has been successfully 
started by this means in many places in the eastern part of this 
country where it would not previously grow. There seems no 
doubt that the phenomenon is simply one of inoculating the soil 
with the proper bacteria. 
But soil inoculations with legume earth are troublesome. Soil 
is bulky and a considerable quantity is needed. To obtain a 
sufficient amount involves expensive freight charges and the 
Fic 26.—Two snap-bean plants, growing in coal ashes, one with and one without 
inoculation (Ferguson). 
carting of heavy loads. Soil inoculations may also distribute plant 
diseases and troublesome weeds. If tubercles are produced by 
bacteria it ought to be possible to obtain the results by inoculating 
with pure cultures of bacteria. It should be possible to cultivate 
the bacteria in a laboratory and then to distribute to the farmers 
the cultures of the organisms. If this could: be done it would be 
a far simpler matter than the use of soil itself. The first attempt 
to furnish such a culture resulted in an article called Nitragin, 
which was brought out in Germany. This product was eagerly 
tried by experimenters and practical farmers; but, although in 
