. Canadian journal of agricultural science. Agricultural Institute of Canada; Agriculture. February, 1921. SCIENTIFIC AGRICUUTURE 59 Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixation by Leguminous Plants with Special Reference to the Bacteria Concerned By ROY HANSEN Professor of Soils, University of Saskatchewan. (Read before the Western Canadian Society of Ag'ronomy and published thi-ough the courtesy of tliat Society.) Historical. The use of leguminous crops for the pui'pose of re- newing the fertility of the soil dates back before the birth of Christ. The early Roman literature contains a number of references to
. Canadian journal of agricultural science. Agricultural Institute of Canada; Agriculture. February, 1921. SCIENTIFIC AGRICUUTURE 59 Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixation by Leguminous Plants with Special Reference to the Bacteria Concerned By ROY HANSEN Professor of Soils, University of Saskatchewan. (Read before the Western Canadian Society of Ag'ronomy and published thi-ough the courtesy of tliat Society.) Historical. The use of leguminous crops for the pui'pose of re- newing the fertility of the soil dates back before the birth of Christ. The early Roman literature contains a number of references to the use and benefits of these crops. The following quotation from Columella, written in the first century, A. I), will serve as a good illustration: "Some of the leguminous plants manure the land, according to Sasema, and make it fruitful, whilst other crops exhaust it, and make it barren. Lu- pines, beans, peas, lentils and vetches are reported to manure the land. Where no kind of manure is to be had, I think the cultivation of lupines will be found the readiest and best substitute. If they are grown about the middle of September in a poor soil, and then plowed in (when well grown), they will answer as well as the best ; In addition to the crops mentioned Columella, lucerne or alfalfa and fenugreek are mentioned in the early literature as having the same effect as manure. Another bit of interesting historical information was added by Schultz-Lupitz, a German farmer with a somewhat scientific turn of mind who published an account of his experiences in 1881. .lie was growing cereals on poor land with steadily decreasing crop yields. He then began growing legumes and continued until he had grown 15 consecutive crops on the same land. To his surprise instead of the yields growing smaller they increased steadily. Furthermore he found that when he sowed cereals on this land which had grown lupines, the .vield of cereals was two or three times the yield o
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