NITROGEN NODULES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 257, 23 July 1908, Page 3

NITROGEN NODULES.

NOT CONFINED TO LEGUMES. ' It has been most commonly supposed that root .nodules—tho work of bacteria.' which .obtain ' nitrogen from the air—existed only on the roots of leguminous plants, such as clover, beans, otc. Tho theory that, these nodules, or some growths resembling- them, could be found also on: non-leguminous plants has been very little noticed.. Professor Bottomloy, howover, .who has done valuable work with .tho legume nodules in Britain, lias, lately contributed to the ' "Gardeners' Chroniclo'' some valua.blc notes on experiments with these other, nodules. He found it possible to -cultivate a special race of nit-rogen-fixing bacteria in tomato-root extract >and prepare thcreform a culture solution which, when.- sprinkled on the roots, of tomato seedlings,'caused them to grow much moro vigorously; and they were the only j'on'os -to ripen their fruits. Strawberries similarly treated produced 45 per cent, more 'frmt/a.n'd the-fruit ripened ten'days earlier■than.tho fruit of non-inoculated plants. Experiments -nero .carried out also' iwith' wheat' and barley, but the results, though encouraging, are not yofc ready for publication; It- seems probable tliat the 'root nodules of non-leguminous plants are not' of'-'vory common ■'■'occurrence,'- or they would'..have become, mflre generally known. Strawberry roots have-already been noticed in New' Zealand bearing nodults, but- whether those nodules' wore associated with nitrogengathering bacteria : was not '' determined. ■Some good information of practical' value might be obtained in this' country if cultivators of various crops were to. communicate their discoveries'. to the scientific societies or' to tho newspapers. ' 1 '■ '~ . 1