The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-02-24


flower. Samples all very fine for the
time of year.
A. r. HANNA,
w. B. SHANAFELT.
FLOWER REPORT:
Mr.. c. w. Faust exhibits large col
lection of flowers. We find about thirty
varieties of carnations, calla lillies roses,
hyacinths, camelia, fuchsia, several varie-
ties of begonias, geraniums, heliotrope,
asparagus vine, and smilax, two small
bouquets of carnations, and asparagus
vine, exhibeted bp Mr. Ed Bachtel Our
hostess Mrs. Bast has quite display of
house plants, they consist of the follow
ing geramiums, roses, begonias fuchsia
and lille in bloom
ALFARETTA SAVIOR.
JENNIE KRIDER.
Entomologist read the following re-
port on
BACTERIA ETC"
The great insect world runs into won
derful minuteness, much investigation
having been given by scientific men to
microbes and bacteria. We get the idea
that they are "small living beings" short
lived and not distinguished as to its
animal or vegetable nature. They are
instrumental in the production of fer
mentation, decay, and many of the in
fections diseases affecting man and the
lower animals read in a paper the
other day that twould take II, ,000cholera
microbes to form procession one inch
long. Authors generally however, place
them in the vegetable kingdom, but
looking through work have and see
ing the numerous plates with their vari-
Gus forms and shapes, long and short,
they seem rather to belong to the animal
kingdom. They may be a connecting
link.
Professor c. B. Atwell, of the North
western University, in a lecture recently
on "Useful Bacteria" illustrated by draw
ing the curious creatures on the black
board as he went on with his talk. He
said in part:
Bacteria are not so much harmful as
helpful to mankind, though we are accus-
toned to consider them in the light of
being one of the greatest evils that man
is heir to. They are the smallest and
most ubiquitous organisms known to
man. They are abundant in the mouth
stomach and intestines of all animals, in
Guiding man, but they do not occur in
the tissues of healthy animals. We
should consider the bacteria of the air
and water, with few exceptions, as our
friends. This is because they are putre
factive bacteria There is absolute neces-
sity for death of animal and vegetable
matter, which they disintegrate into
simpler compounds for distribution into
the atmosphere and the soil.
"The latest bullentin from the agricul-
tural department of the United States
announces that German investigators
have been successful in the manufacture
of soil bacteria on commercial scale,
protected by letters patent, so that farm
ers can now buy these patented bacteria
and stock their soils for special crops at
cost of about $1.25 an acre.
Clear Streams and Lakes.
Bacteria clear our streams and lakes
of sewage and strive to make all waters
pure; they decompose dead animals and
plants and convert them into dust from
which they came; nitrify the soil, max
ing it possible for plants to obtain food
without exhausting the supply, thus pro-
viding us with all forms of fruits and
vegetables and the wheat for our daily
bread. Bacteria flavor our butter and
cheese; raise the very bread which we
consider the staff of life.
"They perform necessary work in the
process Of 'retting' flax in the linen in
dustry; they do the same work in the
treatment of jute, hemp and cocoanut
fiber. In the American process of tam
ing leather they are necessary to make
the hides soft and pliable. They must
be present in the preparation of citric
acetic, Tactic, butyric acids and in curing
tobacco they give the delightful aroma
that mnst be present to give value TO the
commodity.
"Indigo is the product of these tiny
organisms. The sprouting of seeds i:
promoted by bacteria, and the contro
and management of silos, by which the
farmer preserves fresh food for his cattle
in their winter quarters, depend on thu
activity of common bacteria"
Microbes We Eat.
From the London Chronicle.)
At the London Institution last nigh
, Prof w. B. Bottomley, NJ. A., delivered
lecture entitled Microbes-Friendly AM
Otherwise" He commenced by obsery