The Miero-organismsi of the Soil. 
851 
I will quote the following : — “ There was in no case any large gain 
without root-nodules ; but with them there was uniformly more or 
less gain of nitrogen from the air. As a rule, the greater the 
abundance of root-nodules, the larger and more vigorous were the 
plants, and the greater was the amount of atmospheric nitrogen 
acquired. The connection between the root-nodules and the 
acquisition of nitrogen, which was first pointed out by Hellriegel, is 
abundantly confirmed. In a number of these experiments, there 
was a loss of nitrogen instead of a gain. The loss occurred where 
there were no root-nodules ; it was especially large with oat and 
maize plants, and largest where they had the most nitrogen at their 
disposal in the form of nitrates. This loss may probably be due to 
the decomposition of the seeds and nitrates through the agency of 
micro-organisms. In brief, the acquisition of large quantities of 
atmospheric nitrogen by leguminous plants, which was first demon- 
strated by experiments here, and has been since confirmed by others, 
is still further confirmed by the experiments herewith reported. 
These experiments in like manner confirm the observation of the 
connection between I’oot-nodules and the acquisition of nitrogen. 
There is scarcely room for doubt that the free nitrogen of the air 
is thus acquired by plants.” 
Chemists, as a rule, hesitate to accept isolated cell life as 
modifying and conditioning the action of cells more differentiated ; 
yet it seems that all circumstances point to the fact that most 
reactions taking place between nitrogen and plants are influenced 
by micro-organisms. 
Let us hope that the science of chemistry will, in the near future, 
score the greatest of its agricultural triumphs, by unveiling the 
mysteries which still shroud the specific actions of these minute 
organisms. 
Alfred Springer. 
DISHORNED CATTLE. 
To the Editor of the J ournal. 
Sir, — An article in The Times of September 22, 1892, dealt with 
this subject at some length. It is one, I think, of more importance 
than is generally conceived. 
The practice of dishorning full-grown cattle by sawing off their 
horns seems a cruel and needless one, as the object can be attained 
in another way. The horns should not be allowed to grow, and the 
growth can be easily stopped by the application of a red-hot iron, or 
of caustic potash, at the time when the horn is just pushing through 
the skin. 
For some time I have adopted this method myself, with the 
result that the stock so treated are quieter, and take nothing like 
the shed and manger room they otherwise would require ; while 
very serious loss and pain are avoided, especially in dairy herds. 
