Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1899-03-23
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Soil incubation.
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From Farmers 2sview: Within
the last twenty yea.y the reason why
lsguminous plants hsrich the soil up
on which they grow has been discov-
cred. The fertilizinS effect 10 due to
tav presence of inmate creatures, bac-
tsria, that live in the wart-like knobs
wlon the roots and which collect nitro
zen from the air. Without these crea-
lures and in ground Eot well supplied
with heterogeneous plant food the
Etowth Of leguminous crops is very
raeager; but upon soil where they are
present even though it be poor In nj
tgogen the growth of the plants is
tnany times greater These creatures
are present in all agricultural soils
where leguminous crops have been
grown for any length OF time. Each
kind of crop, however, demands a
special king of germ. Thus a germ
working upon the roots OF red clover
may be found to live upon the roots
cf crimson or of white clover but not
upon peas or vetches. 1t therefore hap
pens that some soils fail to produce
cover or vetches or other legumilous
crops simply because the proper germ
Ia not present.
These facts have led to thorough
Investigation of the subject with the
RESULT that after tireless experimental
iipn the Germans have given to the
world method of soil inoculatior for
which much is claimed. A substance
ARlled nitragin containing milliors of
'te germs is prepared by scientific
~aethods and is applied to the seed be-
s3re 1T is planted When the seed so
tfsated is planted beside seed left un-
stsated and in soil from which these
creatures are excluded either natur-
ally or artificially, the plants that
HE produced are vastly superior in
siery way to those that spring from
sAtreated seed. This has been proved
Esyond question not only in labora-
'hiy experiments but in fields where
sse land was so poor that it would not
~ oduce a paying crop of the legume
planted. In many cases the increase
sce to incubation has been 1000 per
csnt or even more.
Fhe invention, if such it may be
nlled, is OF such recent date that it
FIJI probably be made use Of by per-
H3ns who gain their living by cishon-
AIT means. This remark does not ap-
s.y to the New York agents of the
|srman firm now manufacturing the
Substance. But since fraud gay be
attempted the farmer should ~ fore
Atmed. He should bear in mad that
y he grows peas, beans, vetches,
ssover, COW peas or any other leg
&ainous crop, or If his neighbors grow
KEN it will be unnecessary for him to
sAactice soil incubation unless 1. be
~ described below. The cost OF ap-
tying the substance nitragin varies
an 81 to 81 an acre. This is but
slight expense and would De GER
ESHy justifiable if no risk E5re run.
sat there are serious risks. The stuff
nay ferment or heat on its wgy from
Germany, where It is at present man
&3ctured; 1t may be too old when 1t
yfsives and it may fail to work from
t.me unexplainable cause. Besides
lsis there is care needed in SIS ap-
sl-cation which the busy farmer sell
.&1 likes to take.
II, however, he wishes to grow some
Particular legume and neither he nor
Ills neighbors have grown it he may
VII obtain an effective inoculation.
- should find out some place or field
~here the crop is grown and should
ALtain some earth from it, This, il
spread upon his own land and har-
t2wed in Immediately, will rroduce
the desired result because the germs
ttc already present in it ard wait
3nly for contact with the psnt in
QUESTION to commence operations. In
3culation of the soil is much Ike vac
c.r alton for smallpox; a secoad OPP
srs.tion is unnecessary for yCsrs and
4 the particular crop is grown fire.
ld.stly upon the land the operation
lesd never be repeated. If the dis
tsnee to bring the soil be great it may
oe well to start in a small WHY using
only garden plot for growing the
legume in during the first year. This
soil can then be spread upon the field
is 1t will be pretty full Of germs If a
good growth of plants has been made
avon it.
When one field is inocula.ei the
germs will spread to others by wind,
by rains bringing down dust from the !
air in which these germs are carried |
from place to place, by water wash
ing from higher to lower levels, by |
mud and dust carried upon the feet |
and bodies OF animals and men and |
even by insects. A ton of inoculated |
es:th spread upon an acre will be |
foHnd sufficient. 1t will in few years /
be found to have supplied the whole |
nC ghborhood with germs and the |
lesuminous crop that formerly failed |
Of, account Of the absence of the |
g'fms will, other things being equal,
pi i've a success.
NJ. G.. KAINS