ENRICHING THE SOIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12669, 3 May 1905, Page 3

ENRICHING THE SOIL.

OP INTEREST TO FARMERS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 2. The result of experiments with the nitrogen bacilli at the Levin State farm has been very successful. Three plots each, were sown of beans, peas, clover, and vetches, in one of each the seed was inoculated, in the second the soil was inoculated, and m the third neither seed nor soil was .treated: In each case the plot where the seed was inoculated shows a greater accumulation of nitrogen nodules than that in which the soil was inoculated, and the latter in turn shows a greater accumulation than the untreated plots. This culture is only useful for leguminous crops. The nitrogen stored in the nodules of roots is retained by the soil when the crop is cnt and is available for the succeeding crop which has not the power of elaborating cultures for itself. Dr Moore, of Washington, from whom the Government biologist received .the cultures, has promised a further supply so that considerable quantities- may be manufactured for distribution to farmers.