The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-04-11

tue eCOuOuuC pIouuCtlOu VI inAh, OutttI,
cheese, meat, &c. He will also, with the
assistance of the chemist, make stall tests
Of the digestbility Of different foods.
These require the closest attention and
direct personal supervision, and it is
hoped that thoroughly trained special
ist will be secured for the work. The
chemist, with two assistants, will make
all the analyses required. These will in
clude the analyses of the fertilizers used
in our field tests, of all kinds of farm
products, of plants at their different
stages of growth, of waters, Of compost
and other kinds of manures, Of dairy
products, &c. Analyses of articles for
Narded to the station will be made with
out charge whenever they promise results
possessing interest for the farming pub
| lie.
an officer has been provided for the
analyses of the soils. When
TIE APPLICATION OF CHEMISTRY
to agriculture was made by Liebig much
was expected of tile chemical analysis Of
soil, but the ful6llment fell far short
of the promise, and the method OF soil
investigation was for time abandoned.
It is now held that the chemical analysis
Of soil, standing alone, is worth COM
parati7ely little. 10 be of value it must
be taken in connection with the mechan-
ical analysis, which gives the physical
properties Of the soil-its relations to
heat, moisture, nc. Such work requires
special appliances and training. The
professor selected has studied for years
in the laboratory of the greatest authori-
ty on this subject in this country. The
same officer viii make examinations Of
all commercial seeds sold in our market
determining their purity and vitality
and will have charge of the neteorologl-
cal observations and Investigations. He
will also carry on work in micro-pho-
tography. Photography now plays an
important part in every department. OF
science. It is specially valuable in
microscopic investigations. By its aid
the merest speck on the field Of the
microscope can be fixed on paper and
studied at leisure. The botanist and
entomolog;st will study plants and In
sects common to our section, will carry
on experiments in vegetable physiology,
will investigate the fungoid diseases OF
plants, and will determine and name any
plant or insect sent to the station for ex-
animation. The veterinarian will give
his special attention to animal diseases
and the remedies for the same.
The microscopist and bacteriologist
will perhaps be the most valuable officer
connected with the station. Bacteriology,
a science developed within the last twen-
ty years, promises to do much for the
advancement of agriculture. AS re-
marked under the preceding head, the
part played by bacteria in all kinds OF
fermention is now fully recognized.
They are known to produce malignant
types of disease-diphtheria, fevers, con-
sumption, &c. Anthrax, which ravages
the Sheep folds of France, the silk worm
disease, the blight which destroys our
pear trees, and numerous other ills OF
plant and animal life are now laid at the
door of these wonderful little organisms.
BY studying their life history Pasteur
was able to save the silk industry of
France, to inoculate against the anthrax,
and greatly to improve the methods in
use in French breweries. We have al
ready noticed the practical application
made Of the teachings of the new science
in the process OF ensilage; but its
promise is greater in another department
of agriculture theory and practice
of soil fertilization. Nitrogen, so indis-
pensible to the plants, is the most costly
constituent of fertilizers, and the dream
of the agricultural investigator has been
the discovery Of cheap and easy method
of rendering available the inert nitrogen
of the air. This would indeed prove the
Philosophers Stone, to convert dead
matter into golden halyests. The dis
co7ery would revolutionize the agricul-
turai world.
Every one knows the important part
played by nitric acid in the nutrition of
vegetables. It is the opinion Of many
that it is only in this form that nitr ogen
enters the plant. Hence the process of
nutrifcation has been closely studied.
The old theories OF Liebig and others
have given way before the discoveries Of
Muntz and Warrington, who
seem to have established that nutrifica-
ton the formation of nitric ecid in the
soil is the work of living organism,
one of the irresponsible bacteria. In
other words it is considered kind of
fermentation. OF the application Of this
new theory so careful and cautious a
scientist as Stores remarks: "Ihe proba-
biities are that the mere discovery OF
what appears to be the true theory OF
VIZ, the ferment theory,
just now alluded to, will ultimately
greatly increase the production Of food.
Not only will farmers soon learn to make
composts, and to apply manure in
more rational manner than was possible
before, but they will take pains to foster
and protect the fermeDt germs, and to /!
SOW them, as it were, and TO cultivate
them in fit places"
In closing, I will only say that the
station has already entered upon its
work. Hundreds of field tests are now
in progress, many analyses OF fertilizers,
foods and seeds have been made, and a ,