392 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



exactly according to the directions given on the packets ; and the 

 uninoculated seed was dipped in tap-water for the same length of time, 

 in order to ensure that if any ill effect followed the moistening of the 

 seed all alike should be subject to it. The dipping in each case was only 

 sufficiently long to ensure that the seed coats should be thoroughly 

 wetted. The seed was subsequently dried in a darkened room before being 

 sown. 



After the plants had developed they were all watered, as shown in Table 

 A and at fig. 138— some with Nitro-Bacterine, some with the solution of 

 sugar and salts used in making the culture, and the rest with pure water. 



Inoculation Material. — The material used for the inoculation was 

 kindly presented by Professor Bottomley, and was received from him 

 direct. The material containing the germs consisted of a small quantity 

 of dry cotton wool, together with a considerable amount of sand and dry 

 organic matter, including dead leaves of sphagnum and other mosses. 

 The other packets were similar in composition to those sent in 1908. The 

 culture was started on May 17, and used on May 19, the soil being 

 inoculated and spread on that day, and well hoed in, and the seed being 

 sown on the next day as soon as dry. 



Growth of the Plants. — The seed germinated quickly and well, and 

 there was no noticeable difference in the rate of germination between the 

 inoculated and the untreated seed and soil. 



Many of the seedlings were attacked and destroyed by the larva of a 

 small dipterous fly (species not identified, but apparently nearly related 

 to the one that attacks peas in the same way). The larva bores into the 

 root and upwards into the stem ; the latter turns brown and dies. All 

 plots alike suffered, but about 100 plants came safely in each row, and 

 these were thinned to fifty, as equal in size as possible. The plants grew 

 slowly, and never developed well ; they reached the fruiting stage during 

 the hot dry spell of weather in August, and did not grow after, so that the 

 crops were very small throughout. 



The pods were gathered when of a marketable size, and the plants 

 were picked over twice. The results are set out in the table below. 



TABLE A. 



1 



Plot 



Soil treatment 



Seed treatment 



.Subsequently watered with 



Weight of 

 produce 



No. of in- 

 oculations 



1 



Not inoculated 



Not inoculated 



Well water 



1,108 grs. 



0 



2 







Solution of salts and sugar 



872 „ 



0 



3 



i) ») 





Nitro-bacterine culture 



760 „ 



1 



4 





Inoculated 



Well water 



880 „ 



1 



5 







Solution of salts and sugar 



932 „ 



1 



6 







Nitro-bacterine culture 



773 „ 



2 



7 



j> >) 



Not inoculated 



Well water 



731 „ 



0 



8 



Inoculated 







712 „ 



1 



9 







Solution of salts and sugar 



650 „ 



1 



10 





)) 5) 



Nitro-bacterine culture 



803 „ 



2 



11 



Not inoculated 



>5 >J 



Solution of salts and sugar 



609 „ 



0 



12 



Inoculated 



Inoculated 



Well water 



636 „ 



2 



13 



)j 



" 



Solution of salts and sugar 



697 „ 



2 



14 



>» 





Nitro-bacterine culture 



666 „ 



3 



15 



Not inoculated 



Not inoculated 



Well water 



591 „ 



0 



