THE AID OF BACTERIA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 65, 8 July 1914, Page 4

THE AID OF BACTERIA.

The interesting cable message that appeared in the newspapers recently with reference to the experimental work being done by Professor W. B. Bottomley, M.A V Ph.D., Professor of Botany in Kings College, London, in the direction of plant stimulation, although not as explicit as might be desired, was sufficient, to arouse considerable interest in this important question. It was stated that the Professor had produced a new stimulant of plant, growth, and that ho had been able to grow tomatoes in pure sand, which was merely watered wiui an extract of this product. "An eggcupful sprinkled on the surface soil," he remarked, "doubled the size of arum lilies, and plants of every kind grew more strongly, flowered more profusely, and with, intensified colors under this system of treatment." Similar results had been obtained with wheat, barley, and oats, and the agricultural colleges were making extensive experiments with the stimulant, whilst the Irish Agricultural Department was using "two tons" for potato tests. The message was brought under tiie notice of Dr. Chilton, of Canterbury College, by a representative of the Christclmrch "Press," and he was asked if he could throw a little more light on the matter. Dx. Ciiilton said that he did not feel inclined to make any remarks about the alleged new discovery, on such meagre details as were afforded in the cable message. He hinted that possibly some enthusiastic news agent had got hold of a garbled version of the actual facts and had "let himself go" over them. "When I was in England recently," said Dr. Chilton, "I met Professor Bottomley, and I know he was then engaged in a series of investigations into the effect of the bacteria in the root nodules of leguminous plants. These bacteria enable the plants belonging to this order to obtain free nitrogen from the air, a very valuable faculty. Other plants besides 'those of the leguminosae have nodules on the roots, and I may mention the New Zealand totara and the celery pine. lam inclined to think that Professor Bottomley's experiments have not yet been in the direction of inducing nodules with bacteria to grow ort the roots of plants which hitherto have not yet developed them. If this is the case, there are doubtless great possibilities, but until really definite information is to hand, I would prefer not to speculate on the subject."