50 Report OF THE BACTERIOLOGIST OF THE 
CIRCULAR. 
Dear Srr:—Your letter of recent date in regard to securing 
nitrogen-fixing bacteria has been received. 
We greatly regret that our supply of packages prepared for 
inoculating the legume (or legumes) which you mention is com- 
pletely exhausted. We shall not be able to furnish any greater 
quantity than has already been promised for spring sowing. 
A limited quantity for use with fall-sown leguminous crops 
will, however, be available, application for which should be 
made after July 1, 1905. 
When applying for inoculating material, do not neglect to 
state the probable time for planting, kind of seed, and quantity 
to be treated, so that we may send you the organisms in the 
best possible condition. This is necessary, as our methods re- 
quire the inoculation to be made either before or at the time 
of planting the seed. Full directions for use are included in 
each package sent out. 
The bacteria are beneficial only in connection with legumes 
(including the clovers, vetches, peas, beans, etc.,) and are not 
applicable to other farm or garden crops. Even with legumes 
these bacteria are of no decided benefit except when the proper 
nodule-forming organisms are lacking in the soil, but a crop 
of nodule-bearing legumes improves the soil for succeeding crops. 
In replying please refer to this circular. 
Yours very truly, 
A. F. WOODS, 
Chief Pathologist and Physiologist. 
Approved : 
B. T. GautLtoway, 
Chief of Bureau. 
GENEVA, N. Y., March 25, 1905. 
Dr. A. F. Woops, 
Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 
My Dear Sir:—Yours of March 238, is received. We will be 
very much obliged if you can send us a culture of the organism 
for alfalfa and full directions for propagating and preparing 
the same for distribution. If our other work will permit we 
will desire to obtain other cultures later. 
Yours truly, 
H. A. HARDING, 
Bacteriologist. 
