Seed and soil inoculation for leguminous crops / by W.B. Bottomley.

  • Bottomley, William Beecroft, 1863-1922.
Date:
1907
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Seed and soil inoculation for leguminous crops / by W.B. Bottomley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    say that we have never liad a better and earlier crop. The seeds came u]> very strong, and the leaves had a nice dark colour. We P'cked the first beans six treek's after sowing” To the farmer who reads of the wonders worked by soil inocula- tion, the question naturally aiises—“ How is it done ?” The method is simplicity itself. Given ordinary common sense and care, there is not the slightest difficulty in preparing the culture solutions from the materials supplied. Neither elaborate appliances nor special knowledge are required. The “ suitable temperature ” has caased an.xiety to some usei’s, but if it be remembered that a temperature similar to that necessary for the “ Avorking ” of yeast when mixed in the sponge by the houseAvife, is all that is required there ought to be no difficulty in obtaining the cloudy solution. The results given in the reports Avhich folloAV have all been obtained under the general conditions to be found iq)on any farm or garden. The cultures Avere distributed ns far as possible to eA-eryone AA’ho Avas sufficiently interested in the subject to Avrite for material. With the material the instructions given beloAv Avere sent, from AA-hich it Avill be readily seen that the ])rc])arntion and application of the culturA* solution of nitrogen-fixing bacteiia present no diffi- culty :— Directions for using Inoculating Material. The contents of the accomj)anying j)ackages Avill produce one gallon of culture solution. A smaller quantity may be prepared by usijig j)roj)ortionate ({uantities of the materials. Take a bucket or tub, clean and scald it out thoroughly, place in it one gallon of good pure Avater (])referably rain AA'ater AA'hich has been Avell boiled and alloAved to cool), add the contents of package No. 1 and stir until the salts are dissolved. Then carefully open package No. 2, and drop the enclosed aa'ooI and poAA'der into the solution, giving another stir. CoA'er the tub Avith a clean moist cloth to protect the solution from dust, and keej) in a AAarm place (e.g. by the side of a fire), but tem'perature must not (xceed 75° to 80° Falir. After 24 hours add the contents of package No. 3, again stirring and alloAV the mixture to stand until it turns cloudy. This will take place in from 24 to 36 hours if the temperature is suitable. If the solution has been kept cold, further time should be given (not exceeding one or tAVO dajs) for sufficient groAvtli of the bacteria to produce the cloudiness, as it is useless for inoculating puiqjoses until it turns cloudy. To Inocul.\te Seed.—Take enough cloudy culture solution to moisten the seed. This may be done either by dipping the seed