New YorkK AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 29 
quantitatively the probable importance of inoculation in growing 
alfalfa in this State. The contributions to the subject are: First, 
evidence that inoculation is at present one of the large factors in the 
successful growing of alfalfa in nearly all portions of the State; 
and, second, the fact that there is an important practical difference 
between the presence of a small number of the required germs in 
the soil and the presence of sufficient inoculation to supply the needs 
of the crop in this respect. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 
The success of these experiments has depended largely upon the 
real cooperation of the farmers who have had them immediately in 
charge. To them we return our sincere thanks, trusting that the 
assistance which these results may be to their fellow farmers will be 
their most acceptable reward. y 
As this was, to an unusual extent, a series of experiments in 
which several of the Station staff have assisted, any further credit 
due should be ascribed to the Station as a whole, the authors assum- 
ing the responsibility for any mistakes which may have been made. 
IMPORTANCE OF INOCULATION. 
HISTORY. 
A widespread interest in the subject of inoculation for legumes 
has been manifested at three distinct periods. The first was in 
1886. At that time many investigators were searching for the 
source of the increase of our available nitrogen and the announce- 
ment of Hellriegel immediately turned scientific attention in’ this 
direction. Again in 1896 the “ Nitragin” of Nobbe and Hiltner 
promised a ready means of making the earlier scientific discoveries 
of general application to agriculture and, while it failed of its 
original purpose, it started a line of work which has continued down 
to the present time. 
The center of interest on these occasions was in Europe and there 
was little expression on the subject in this country outside of the 
circle of scientific workers. However, in 1904 when the U. S. De- 
partment of Agriculture announced a new method of transporting 
the legume cultures dried on cotton, not only the scientists but, to a 
remarkable extent, the farmers became keenly interested. This was 
at least partly accounted for by the extensive interest in the grow- 
ing of alfalfa and the conviction that much of the difficulty which 
had been experienced in growing this crop was due to the lack of 
inoculation. 
