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THE GARDENING WORLD , 
December 24, 1904. 
Soil Inoculation. 
Just as the coachman has thrown aside the tall hat and slow 
horse-rein, so the gardener must discard the dung-cart and the 
fertiliser. Since the introduction of microscopic assistance w r e 
have learned that minute life control the forces around us and 
are responsible for more than we can explain. We were not, 
however, quite prepared for the inoculation of Legumes with 
such astounding results and simplicity of application as reach 
us from authentic sources in America (I write with my hand 
on packets of bacteria culture and communications from Dr. 
G. T. Moore, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, 
D. C.) 
We have known for years that the nodules on the roots of 
Legumes were capable of making nitrogen to support them¬ 
selves, and at the same time leave the soil richer in nitrogenous 
food, but we were helpless in producing the nitrogen-gathering 
bacteria essential to nodule formation. Here Dr. Moore makes 
the successful discovery and places his inoculative culture at 
the disposal of every American agri-horticulturist. True, Pro¬ 
fessor Nobbe, a German, was the first to isolate and cultivate 
the bacteria, but the methods he employed weakened the germ, 
whereas the superior processes of Dr. Moore strengthen it and 
add immensely to its commercial value and vital ability. His 
process is patented and placed in trust to the American people 
arid distributed free by the United States Government. One 
Maryland farmer who experimented during 1903 had immense 
crops of Vetches from land hitherto worthless, and the follow¬ 
ing year planted it with a grain crop which exceeded more than 
double the best he had ever grown on his best land. Some of 
his results were from land inoculated in 1903 for red Clover, 
40 per cent, gain in cotton crop, 1904 ; crimson Clover, 50 per 
cent, gain in Potatos, 1904; velvet Beans, 300 per cent, gain 
in Oats, 1904 ; Peas, 400 per cent, gain in Rye, 1904 ; Melilo- 
tus, 46 per cent, gain in Wheat, 1904. 
Grain crops naturally benefit after a leguminous crop, but 
never to the above extent without inoculation, which gives 
immediate assistance to any Legume and leaves the soil greatly 
enriched for grain or any other crop. Different bacteria are 
required for Peas, Clover, Vetch and Alfalfa, respectively; . so 
when making application the crop intended for inoculation 
should be named. 
Directions for Using Inoculating Material. — Put 1 gallon 
of clean water (preferably rain-water) into a clean tub or 
bucket, and add No. 1 of the enclosed package of salts; stir 
occasionally until all is dissolved. 
Carefully open package No. 2 and drop the enclosed cotton 
(which contains the bacteria) into the solution, cover the tub 
with a paper to protect from dust, and set aside in a warm 
place for twenty-four hours. Do not heat the solution or you 
will kill the bacteria. It should never be warmer than blood- 
heat. 
After twenty-four hours add the contents of package No. 3. 
Within twenty hours more the solution will have a cloudy 
appearance and is ready for use. 
To Inoculate Seed. —Take just enough of the solution to 
thoroughly moisten the seed. Stir thoroughly so that all the 
seeds are touched by the solution. Spread out the seeds in a 
shady place until they are perfectly dry, and plant, just as you 
would untreated seed.' If bad weather should prevent planting 
at once, the inoculated seed, if thoroughly dried, may be kept 
without deterioration for several weeks. The dry cultures as 
sent from the laboratory will keep for several months. Do 
not prepare the liquid culture more than two or three days 
previous to the time when the seeds are to be treated, as the 
solution once made up must usually be used at the end of forty- 
eight hours. 
To Inoculate Soil.— Take enough dry earth so that the 
solution will merely moisten it. Mix thoroughly so that all the 
particles of the soil are moistened. Thoroughly mix this earth 
with four or five times as much, say half a waggon load. 
Spread this inoculated soil thinly and evenly over the prepared 
ground exactly as if spreading fertiliser. The inoculated soil 
should be harrowed in immediately. Either of*the above 
methods may be used as may be most convenient. 
The above is a copy of instructions direct from Washington, 
and I hojDe others will make an effort to obtain and thoroughly 
test this brilliant discovery of Dr. Moore and his amiable 
Government, who sent me samples free save postage. 
, Henry H. Gibson. 
A Winter Favourite. 
Frequenting a few of the gardens, easily accessible in a day’s 
journey from here, one cannot but observe the variations of 
the treatment of plant life. Being in the juvenile side of gar¬ 
dening, the bothy structure comes in first for inspection on 
such visits. I can see The Gardening World is becoming 
more universal in bothies ; if I fail to see the paper itself, I 
cannot but see some of its gaudy supplements adorning the 
walls. My object, however, is to give a brief treatise on Be¬ 
gonia Gloire de Lorraine, a winter favourite. These visits have 
prompted it, for it is not at home. I question if I could sig¬ 
nalise two places where it is in good order. So much has been 
written on this plant that it would almost bore the readers to 
see it commented on. It has been an absentee from these 
pages this winter, so a remark anent it may be welcome to the 
unsuccessful. A plant one could not over-estimate, a con¬ 
tinuous bloomer from October to February, no plant goes 
under such a variation of culture. Every gardener dictates his 
method, and I could say without much fear of contradiction 
that it baffles some gardeners to-day to grow Gloire de Lor¬ 
raine. 
Like many other plants, it is a poor spectacle if not well 
grown—stunted plants in large pots. This is a common error, 
and not complimentary to the grower, to see the pots much 
more conspicuous than the Begonias. This is an initial 
blunder—large pots—when the market is literally flooded with 
feeding stimulants so beneficial to the small root-bound pots. 
In many instances the owners of gardens take a hatred to 
certain plants, but this dislike in many cases arises from their 
not being able to see the plants in their perfect cultivation. 
If a few of these obstinate, self-willed gardeners would rely 
more on their subordinates their success with Gloire de 
Lorraine would be gratifying. Here you are. The youth 
or foreman may have a nice batch of Begonias, when the 
chief imagines they are not doing well and has them re¬ 
moved to more congenial quarters, or lie may pinch the plants 
or do something irrefutable. The youth is then up in arms, 
loses all interest, does not care one iota for his work. This is 
not mere supposition, but the ghnuine truth. Some, no doubt, 
will be endeavouring to do their utmost with the coming 
season. 
The Begonias will be in full flower, yet whether good or bad 
plants, it will not prevent its blooming. There is no necessity 
to cut the plants down, but keep them in a nice warm pit till 
February. By that time suckers will show themselves ; avoid 
taking side shoots, for they will never give satisfaction. Make 
the suckers into nice cuttings, and insert in a well-drained pan 
of a sandy compost. Plunge into the stove propagating case. 
If kept moist, roots will soon form. Pot into small pots in a 
mixture of leaf-mould, sand, and charcoal. Keep growing on 
in a strong moist heat. I have seen this plant do well if 
heavily shaded. Pot on as necessary till in a 6-in. pot, when 
specimens can be cultivated in this size. The potting material 
' consists of leaf-mould, old cowdung, soot, charcoal, and sand. 
Pot loosely. I do not think the potting material is very im¬ 
portant; it is more the careful watering, damping overhead 
and a warm temperature, till August; afterwards gradually 
inure to a cooler house. Have the plants neatly staked, and 
apply liquid manure. A very destructive thrip attacks the 
plant, caused by a too dry atmosphere when growing. Turn- 
ford Hall is the most popular sport derived from it. It is 
wholly impracticable to keep old plants. A. V. M. 
TVishaw. 
