644 Inoculation of Leguminous Plants. [feb., 



muslin and dipped in a pail containing the liquid preparation 

 of the culture to be used. The muslin is allowed to sink until 

 the liquid just covers the seeds ; the corners of the muslin are 

 then gathered up, and the seeds lifted out, In this way it is 

 possible to dress sufficient seed for several acres from one pailful 

 of culture. 



Some of the smaller seeds, such as clover, seemed to be injured 

 by this soaking in liquid, and this affords a possible explanation 

 of the failure of the crop at several centres, and of the better 

 yield of the undressed plot over the dressed. 



In one case, however, in which peas were used, an opposite result 

 was obtained, and it was thought the soaking process with 

 the American manurial solution had had a beneficial result, 

 independently of the organisms which it contained. In any case 

 it would seem very desirable to dress the seed for control plots 

 with a solution similar to that containing the root nodule 

 organisms, but free from the organisms themselves. 



The general plan of the experiments was as follows : — : 



Section I. — Laboratory experiments ivith sterilised soil or sand. 

 Section II. — Pot cultures in unsterilised soils from various sources. 



These as a rule included not only ordinary cultivated soils, but 



also virgin soils, or soils which had not grown leguminous crops 



for many years. 



Section III. — Experiments in accord with actual agricultural or horticultural 

 practice. 



These experiments varied from the inoculation of small garden 

 plots to tests on a large scale in the field. 



I.— Laboratory Experiments with Sterilised Soil. 



Eight centres reported on the results of these experiments, 

 and taking all the results together there are about an equal 

 number of cases in which an increase was recorded (in most 

 cases estimated), and in which no results were observed. 



The details of the principal results reported in this series of 

 experiments are briefly as follows : — 



Aberdeen. — Moore's cultures for Alsike clover, red clover, 

 lucerne, beans, and peas : soil sterilised in dry oven from 

 350 deg. to 400 deg. F. Seeds inoculated. 



Alsike and red clover, " equally luxuriant in inoculated and 

 uninoculated pots." Lucerne, "rather better where it was 

 untreated." Peas and beans, "rather more luxuriant in pots 

 bearing inoculated seed." 



Aberystwith. — Moore's culture for vetches : crop from inocu- 

 lated pot, 7 lb. ; crop from uninoculated pot, 5 lb. 



