178 



manuring for all the plots was potash, (in kainite) 140 lb., phosphoric 

 acid (in basic slag) 107 lb., per acre applied in September, 1887. Irt 

 October three kinds of inoculating soils were applied, and were worked 

 in to a depth of 4 inches in April 1888. 



The plants were damaged by a late frost (May 29), the horse-beans 

 being the least affected. By June 13 a decided effect was visible on 

 the plots inoculated with the two fertile soils, especially the loam, and 

 the peas so treated had a dark green colour, whilst those which were not 

 inoculated were yellowish green. By the end of June the effect of the 

 bean soil was most striking, being visible from a great distance, and was 

 camparable with the effect of 3 cwt. of nitrate of soda per acre on rye^ 

 as compared with unmanured rye. 



In the table below are stated the particulars as regards the soils ap- 

 plied, and the total produce obtained, under the different condition*. 

 Average results, in pounds per acre are given : — 



Inoculating Soil. 



Field Peas. 



Beans and 

 Pease. 



Beans and 

 Lentils. 



Peas. 



B 

 f-i 



o 



traw. 



orn. 



i 



u 



c 



o 



traw. 



c 



u 

 c 



•5 





O 





Q 



m 



O 





O 



m 



No soil applied 



791 



2,299 



615 



1,453 



283 



1,935 



327 



2,832 



Uncultivated 







396 



1,027 



298 



2,068 







Arable Loam (beans; ... 



496 



3,760 



1,027 



2,728 











Loamy marsh Soil 



1,062 



4,286 



1,171 



3,165 



873 



3,576 



387 



3,] 20 



An examination of the roots of the plants showed that those grown 

 in inoculated soil were thickly covered with nodules ; where there had 

 been no inoculation, nodules were only occasionally found. The increased 

 production, brought about by the application of soil to the land, could 

 only be due to the introduction of appropriate micro-organisms. It 

 could not be owing to the soil being improved physically, since the un- 

 cultivated loam was without effect ; and the manurial value of the soil 

 applied was practically nothing. 



In 1891, an experiment on peaty soil was made with a mixture of 

 grey peas and horse-beans, in which the effects of different soils for in- 

 oculation, and of varying amounts of lime were investigated. One por- 

 tion of the field had been burnt, the other not. The inoculating soils 

 were (1) mud from ttieZuider Zee; (2) a sandy soil on which the peas 

 had grown well ; and (3) an old very light, sandy lupin soil, The whole 

 field, about 2^ acres had been dug to the depth 10 inches in 1889, har- 

 rowed in June 1890, then slaked lime was very carefully distributed 

 over the land, in quantities of 16, 24 and 32 cwt. per acre, and harrowed 

 in. In July the land was forked to a depth of 4 inches, in October to 

 a depth of 8 inches. Kainite (1, 0701b. per acre) and basic slag (535 lb.) 

 were sown in November. The moculating soils were applied the follow- 

 ing April, and were well harrowed in before the seed was sown. Ihe 

 seeds were covered over by harrowing. By May 26 leavts were formed- 

 on the young plants, but no difference was perceptible between the plots. 

 On June 13 the plants which received the greatest amount of lime (3^ 



