New YorK AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 5D 
Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire 
to secure by Letters Patent, is— 
The process of preparing for distribution nitrogen-gathering 
organisms, which consists in moistening suitable absorbent 
material with a solution in which such organisms are suspended, 
and afterward thoroughly drying the said materials substantially 
as hereinbefore described. 
In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specifica- 
tion in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 
GEORGE T. MOORE. 
- Witnesses : 
A. K. Woops, 
Gro. P. McCasn. 
MEDIA USED IN THE INVESTIGATION, 
The Letters Patent of Dr. Moore gives a clear statement of the 
media required in developing cultures of Ps. radicicola. Con- 
cerning the water and the ammonium phosphate to be used, the 
directions might have been more specific. 
While the water is not designated as “ distilled,” that is the 
kind commonly used in making bacteriological media. More- 
over, the reference to ‘“ ordinary wellwater or rainwater ” toward 
the close of the paper, evidently precludes the idea of their 
being used in the laboratory work. It has accordingly been 
taken for granted that distilled water was what. was intended. 
“ Phosphate of ammonia” does not! indicate which of the three 
possible forms is to be used. This point was referred to Dr. 
Moore, who replied as follows: 
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 27, 1905. 
Pror. H. A. HARDING, ; 
Bacteriologist, N. Y. Agricultural Ex. Station, 
Geneva, N. Y.. 
Dear Sir:—Your letter of July 14 was awaiting me upon my 
return to Washington, and I hasten to reply. 
We have experimented with all of the ammonium phosphates 
and while the mono-basic seem to be a little the best, we have 
used the di-basic almost entirely because of its cheapness. 
Our experience with the tri-basic salt was that the solution pro- 
duced was too alkaline, and it did not seem to be quite so soluble. 
This may have been due to the particular grade we had at the 
