Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-10-17
THE NEW FARMING.
bacteria to Be Used FertfIize tho Soil
Cheaply.

TIE NE" fAhmtN0s
bacteria to Be Used to FertiIize the Soil
Cheaply.
New discoveries tread close on each
Sther in the realm of microscopic or
yanisms. 1t is but few years since
the words microbe and bacteria We're
made a part of our language. 1t Will
not be long before formers will say my
microbes freely they say my pigs
or my hens or my cows For it is no
longer the injurious bacteria that are
studied, but the advantageous; and it
is known that no phase of plant life can
go on successfully without the inter
vention of these microscopic aids. So
t is to microbes again that we owe the
chemical changes that characterize the
dairy. The changes from fresh milk to
butter are due to the action of useful
bacteria. To sterilize milk will keep
it fresh for weeks; to expose it TO
bacteria will hasten its changes of form
and quality. Milk is pasteurized or de-
microbed by heating it up to $50 de
yrees Fahrenheit. This kills the bac-
terra, after which they must be eN-
cluded by tight bottling.
The air is simply an ever full labora-
| tory of these minute chemists; they OPP
crate on everything. ourselves included.
Health, as well as disease, is due to in
| visible neighbors. In our gardens we
are learning that cultivation consists
not simply in stirring and feeding the
| soil, but in adding to it or removing
from it those bacteria that affect plant
growth. 1t will not be long before
every farmer will have what he may
| call his bacteria stable, as much as he
now has his horse stable. In fact, we
are likely to lose our horses, but not be
able to get on at all without microbes.
Such stable or room will hold not only
apparatus and substances for destroy
| ing fungoid attacks that destroy the
right vital processes of plants. but il
will hold cultures of benefcia, Jul
crobes These can be preserved and
put in useful conditions, yeast is pre-
pared for the kitchen or pure Gull
| lures of bacteria for the dairyman.
| The most recent discovery along this
line is that of the famous Prof. Noble.
of Saxony. He has made it speciality
to prepare what we might call farmers
yeast. or bacteria, useful for plant
growth, in such form that a farmer
may sow it in his field. or otherwise
| bring it into contact with the seed that
he places in the ground.
| 1t is only a few years since it WIS
found that the leguminous plants, by
some means, could directly extract nj
| trogen from the air. On the roots of
| clover you will find small and very
beautiful nodu:es. These, it was sus-
pected, had something to do with the
| nitrogen; but it was a long while before
| it was found out that these nodules
were the work of bacteria; that at first
| they are parasitic growths, which
later became passive, and that then the
L ~ IL -
bean plant and give a new faculty
| that of nitrogen fiXation. But it is not
| the same bacteria that aids the clover
| and the beans. 1t was clear that if this
power could be transferred, or inocu-
| lated, lust as we inoculate flour with
| yeast, it would be of great value to ag-
| riculture. A new field of experiment was
| opened. Hereafter it would be sought
1 not only to destroy mischievous BAG
| terra, but 20 multiply and transplant
the useful. 1t was found that where
| bacteria had worked in cooperation
| with beans or clover the soil was richer
| in nitrogen rather than poorer, and
| that such soil could be sowed upon and
| worked into other soil poor in nitrogen
| to give it power to extract nitrogen
| from the air. This was TO cultivate
and sow the nitrogen-feeding bacteria.
|
| such prepared soil to fertiiiZe an acre.
This was expensive and practically null
| lifted the utility of the discovery.
| Prof. Noble set about endeavoring to
| secure a culture, that is pure product
of bacteria, what you might call a
| bacterian yeast, which could be bottled
and carried about, and stored, and
planted in any soil where it might be
| wanted. The news now comes that he
| has succeeded, and what he calls N /
| tragin'' is now for sale. 1t can be had
for very small sum, indeed-enough
to nitragenize an acre for less than s.
This pure culture is placed in contac:
| with the seed before the latter is sowr
and worked into the soil to a depth OF
! three inches. The culture, which W.,
might just as we'll call yeast, is kept in
bottles, and must not be exposed tC
light or to heat above 9S degrees Fab,
cnheit.-N. Y. Independent.
| A Rural Court Scene
A couple applied to rural justice OF
the peace for total divorce. The justice
called the bailiff aside and asked in 4