New York AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 179 
deficient in the nodule-forming bacteria. For several years it has 
been known that some of the alfalfa failures in New York are due 
to this cause and recent investigations by the Bacteriological De- 
partment of the Station enable us to make an estimate of the ex- 
tent of such deficiency.“ In 65 experimental fields a portion of 
each was artificially inoculated by spreading over it a small quantity 
of soil from an old alfalfa field. Satisfactory crops of alfalfa were 
obtained on the inoculated portion of 46 of these fields; whereas, 
on the uninoculated portion only 13 gave satisfactory crops. In 
other words, artificial inoculation increased the percentage of suc- 
cesses from 20 to 70. Since the experiments were distributed over 
33 counties it would appear that they represent fairly well the con- 
ditions prevailing over the State as a whole. If so, at least 50 per 
et. and perhaps as much as 75 per ct. of our soils are deficient in 
nodule bacteria. 
One of the above-mentioned experiments showing beneficial etf- 
fects from artificial inoculation was conducted by R. C. Colyer, 
Hicksville, Long Island. The experimental field contained about 
two acres. It was about twice as long as wide and nearly level. 
After plowing in the spring of 1906 the field was limed all ovez, 
shell lime being used at the rate of 75 bu. per acre. It was then 
planted with early potatoes. After the potato crop was harvested, 
during the last week in July, the land was plowed and harrowed. 
Three weeks later an application of commercial fertilizer, 500 lbs. 
per acre, was made and the land harrowed a second time. During 
the last week in August, 1906, the seed was sown at the rate of 30 
lbs. per acre and harrowed in lightly. In order to test the effect 
of inoculation a strip along the west side of the field (about one- 
half acre) was treated with 140 lbs. of soil from the Station al- 
falfa field. It was sown broadcast after the alfalfa was up. The 
alfalfa came up well and went into the winter in good condition 
with no apparent difference between the inoculated and uninocu- 
lated portions of the field. 
In the spring of 1907 there was nothing unusual at first but 
by the latter part of May there was considerable difference in color 
between the inoculated and uniroculated portions. During the early 
part of June the contrast in color steadily increased and became 
very marked. Up to this point the observations here reported were 
made by Mr. Colyer. On June 11 the senior author examined the 
experiment and observed the following: The difference in color 

* Harding and Wilson (39). 
