00 



^ GRIFFITH (SL TURNER CO. ^ 



-Rob of crimson done showlne nodules. 



THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF 

 AGRICULTURE SATS: 

 "It is worse than useless to attempt to grow any legu- 

 minous crop without being certain of the presence of 

 the bacteria which enables the plants to fix free nitrogen. 

 Certain regions are practically devoid of the right kind 

 of bacteria, and unless sonic artificial means of inoculat- 

 ing the germs be resorted to the crop will be a failure." 



Rofifscf Jttongalffclft plants showing 



nodules. 



NITROGEN - COLLECTING BACTERIA. 



WE TEST OUR CULTURES. 

 We have no connection with any other concern calling its product NITROGEN CULTURE. 



It is an undisputed fact that all plant growth must have 

 ammonia or nitrogen in order to thrive and that under normal 

 conditions this nitrogen must be obtained through the root in 

 some highly organized form. 



For many years this nitrogen has been furnished to crops, 

 when it was needed, by mixing with the soil a fertilizer such 

 as nitrate of soda, but recently it has been discovered that in 

 the case of many crops there is another way to accomplish 

 the same result with less expense and less trouble. The legu- 

 minous or pod-bearing plants, it is well known, often have 

 upon their roots lumps or nodules. Scientists have found 

 that these small nodules contain immense numbers of bacteria 

 which have the power of collecting the nitrogen of the air, 

 using part of it for their own sustenance and furnishing part 

 of it for the sustenance of the plant. The United States De- 

 partment of Agriculture has been experimenting with these 

 bacteria for several years and at last they have invented a 

 process which when applied to the seeds of any leguminous or 

 pod-bearing plant will cover them with the nitrogen-collecting 

 bacteria. If they are subjected to this treatment and then 

 planted, as soon as the seeds sprout the bacteria enter the 

 roots forming the above-mentioned lumps or nodules. Read 

 Prof. C. D. Smith's Bulletin No. 71, Director Michigan Agri- 

 cultural College. Do not lay the blame of failure on the inoc- 

 ulation of the seed when bad seed, improper cultivation and 

 unfavorable weather conditions are the real causes. Failure 

 is almost certain where the directions are not carefully studied 



and intelligently followed. In the use of cultures for inocu- 

 lating, the farmer should be guided, as in all other matters 

 pertaining to soil treatment, by his own peculiar needs and 

 should not give too great weight to the experiences of others 

 whose soil conditions may differ widely. 



These bacteria multiply in the soil very rapidly and it is 

 possible to treat crops by mixing the bacteria with the soil. 

 This is called inoculating the soil. It is a dangerous proceed- 

 ing to use inoculated soil unless prepared from your own land, 

 for the simple reason that you may thereby introduce seeds 

 of noxious weeds or the germs of plant disease. Aside from 

 this the expense of hauling or freighting inoculated soil would 

 be almost as great if not as great as would be the use of other 

 nitrogenous fertilizers. The benefit does not cease with the 

 crop inoculated, for in many cases better results have been 

 obtained from the succeeding crops, such as wheat, corn, pota- 

 toes, barley, etc., than from the first crop. 



It must not however be taken for granted that because a 

 crop has apparently failed, that it is caused by a scarcity of 

 nitrogen in the soil. What may be lacking is some form of 

 potash, phosphates, or lime if the land is sour. In order to 

 determine if the soil is sour procure from any drug store a 

 piece of blue litmus paper; insert this paper in damp soil 

 and let it remain twenty=four hours and if the paper turns 

 pink or pinkish the soil is sour and needs lime. Hydrated 



LIME IS PREFERABLE AND CAN BE FURNISHED BY US. 



Cultures are furnished for the following named seeds only : 



Those carried out on the same line require the same bacteria. 



Alfafa, or Lucerne. 

 Red Clover. 



Alsike Clover, White Clover. 

 Crimson Clover. 

 Burr Clover. 

 Japan Clover. 



Field Peas (Canada Field Peas) 

 Garden Peas. 

 Sweet Peas. 



Cow Peas, Whip O'Will Peas 

 [and Clay Peas. 

 Garden Beans, including Kidney, 



Wax, String, Lima and Pea 



Beans. 

 Soy Beans. 

 Velvet Beans. 

 Vetch. 

 Peanuts 



PRICES : — Special Garden Package, each, 25 ;.; half acre, $1.00: 

 one acre, $1.50; two acres, $2 50; three acres, $3.00, and 

 five acres, $5.00. Apply for prices on larger packages. 

 Always state when ordering, the kind of seed to be inoculated as 

 well as number of acres. This will save much delay and trouble. 



Cultures will keep 1 year from date of shipment, and can be used 

 within that time. 



FOR FURTHER PARTICULARS WRITE 



FOR 



-Koots vt garden pea showi: 



CIRCULAR. 



