FOR BETTER CROPS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 118, 14 November 1929, Page 11

FOR BETTER CROPS

BACTERIAL INOCULATION

IMPORTANT FREE SERVICE

' (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Eveninfl Post.")

PALMEBSTON N., This Day. At the plant research area across the Manawatu Biver from Palmerston North, there are two lucerne plots which are an object lessen to farmers. One, a beautiful crop standing at least 18 inches high, was grown from inoculated seed, the other, about 10 inches high, and yellow in appearance, from seed that had not been inoculated.

Every farmer knows that,for lucerne to grow properly there must be present on the roots of each plant those nodules whose function is to supply the plant with, nitrogen. These nodules must be present even if the soil conditions are good. In days gone by, soil containing nodule forming bacteria was spread over the area to be sown with lucerne, but to-day, as a result of research work, the simpler and easier methodof treating the seed before sowing is' adopted. •

The production of cultures of bacteria for the use of farmers has become one of the important works of the Palmerston North Plant Research Station, and tho extent to which farmers are making use of the service may be judged from the fact that in the last two months enough bacteria to treat four tons of seed, to sof 600 acres of lucerne, has been sent out. The cultures arc being sent all over the Dominion—as"'far north as "Whangarei, and as far south as Invcreargill—and the quantity forwarded during the past two months is twice as great as .was sent out during the whole of last soason. Many farmers who tried inoculation last year have come back again for more culture, and with reports of success.

To a "Post" reporter yesterday, Mr. W. Beid, mycologist in charge of the lucerne investigations, explained the method adopted to produce the bacteria cultures. The first step was to obtain a stock culture of bacteria from nodules on growing plants. This stock was replaced every little while, so that it could be- kept fresh and vigorous. The bacteria were then increased on sterile media, and from the increased growth supplies wore sent to farmers in. bottles with instructions. From the time the cultures are first started till they are ready for dispatch to the farmer takes nine days, so that persons requiring cultures must send in their orders in advance of sowing date. No charge is made at present for the cultures, and tho Department even pays postage.

All the farmor has to do is to mis tho culture, which is like a jolly, -in a little skim milk, wet the seed with it, and allow the seed to dry. 'In au hour at I,hc most it will fte ready for sow-