II2 REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF BACTERIOLOGY OF THE 
that they had obtained good results from the use of commercial 
cultures were examined without finding anything upon which to 
base such conclusions. Another alfalfa field has been reported but 
has not yet been examined. It would thus appear that the negative 
results obtained from these cultures in the laboratory at the Ex- 
periment Station are in close accord with what is being actually 
obtained in practice upon the farms. 
EFFECT OF THESE RESULTS UPON TRADE CONDITIONS. 
It is encouraging to note that while the trade in these commercial 
cultures was brisk during the season of 1905 the adverse reports 
which began to appear at the end of that season from the Experi- 
ment Stations, the agricultural press and from the farmers them- 
selves, have very markedly reduced the use of these cultures. 
MODIFICATION OF THE ORIGINAL METHOD. 
Kellerman & Beckwith* have shown that when cultures of legume 
bacteria are placed on cotton, dried promptly and kept absolutely 
dry, they retain their vitality for- a considerable time. The 
National Nitro-culture Co. took advantage of this fact and put 
upon the market cultures on cotton inclosed in metal containers. 
The company claimed thereby to obviate all the objections which 
had been raised against their cultures as put out during 1905. These 
metal containers were collapsible tubes similar to those in which 
bicycle cement is commonly sold, except that they had no small 
opening and were closed by rolling up and compressing the large 
end. That such a closure does not completely cut off the air is plain 
to anyone who has purchased a tube of bicycle cement which has 
been long in stock. 
Since it was this company whose preparations had been found 
worthless last year, common justice demanded that their product 
be again tested and if found to be as much improved as claimed by 
them the fact should be given as wide circulation as had the con- 
demnation of their product of the preceding season. 
* Kellerman, K. F., & Beckwith, T. D. Effect of drying upon legume 
bacteria. Science, N. S., 23:471-472. 10906. 5 
