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The conventional method of inoculating Phaseolus vulgaris with Rhizobium phaseoli, using a peat carrier and dry seeds, was compared with a method using a slurry inoculation of germinating seeds, which were subsequently sown with a fluid drill. The mean number of nodules per plant 28 days after sowing was 0-64 (uninoculated control), 2-14 (dry seed), and 7-0 (fluid drill), differences between treatments being significant at P=o-oi. Two varieties included in the experiment gave similar responses, and it is concluded that the fluid drill technique has a useful potential as a method of ensuring good inoculation of legume seedlings.

SUMMARYA growth analysis of plants raised under controlled environment conditions was used to examine the response to temperature of five contrasting tomato cultivars bred for outdoor production. Curves were fitted to the data of dry weight and leaf area and, to compensate for ontogenetic drift, instantaneous values of growth analysis parameters were calculated from these curves at a specific growth stage. Differences in relative growth rate which could be exploited in a breeding programme were not detected, though there were large differences in the components of relative growth rate. These were, however, compensatory within a cultivar. It was concluded that in order to select a genotype with improved growth rate it would be necessary to disrupt the compensation mechanism between the components of relative growth rate.