The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-07
is NOT DUE TO BACTERIA
Revolution in the Theory of
Cheese Making.
THE RIPENING PROCESS
Experimental Stations Studying the Eff
fects OF Irrigation on Alkali Soils.
Too Much Water Has Been
Used on the Land.

Washington, Aug. Cdr E. w. AL
len, assistant director of experiments
stations in the agricultural department,
has just returned from a prolonged
tour in the west, made for the purpose
Of inspecting the various stations in
that section of the country.
He states that one of the most in
teresting lines of investigation which
is being pursued in these stations is
that with regard to cheese making. The
station in Wisconsin is taking the lead
in this especial work and discoveries
have been made there which revolution
ICES the European theory that the rip
ening of cheese is due to bacteria, The
American experiments demonstrate be-
yond doubt that the principal change in
the albuminoids which takes place in
the ripening process is dependent upon
the material which is contained in the
milk itself and not to the bacteria. 1t
is believed that this discovery will have
an important bearing upon cheese man
ufacture in the future.
On the stations throughout the semi
arid region most attention is being
given to the investigation of excessive
alkali in the soil. In many sections,
notably in California and Utah, there
are large regions of irrigated land
which are practically productive on
account of the presence of alkali In
vestigation makes it plain that this is
Cue to irrigation and in many instances
to excessive irrigation. The water ap-
piled to the soil brings the salts to the
surface, when it rises. In some in
stances it has been found that the lower
portion of streams have been rendered
very alkaline by the return of these
salts in the water from the irrigated
fields. '.s
The work of the experimental sta
tons in connection with this problem is
to find remedy for the evil and this
they are seeking to do by demonstrate
ing that in most instances crops do not
require nearly so much water as is APP
piled to them , .t. r..r.
They are working along practical
lines in the solution of the problem and
in some cases the more progressive
farmers are cooperating with them
Eventually they hope to be able to
show just what quantity of water is re-
quired for given crop in a given To-
cality and count, when able to do this,
not only upon saving from destruction
much land already. under ditch but also
upon extending the irrigable area by
demonstrating that more land can be
supplied with water from the available
supply than now is.
In Montana, Idaho and other semi
arid states there is much work looking
to securing forage plants adapted to
the altitude and climate. In those
states most satisfactory results have
been secured with the COW pea, which
is generally planted with oats. Red
clover is also found to flourish in that
section even better than insthe Eastern
states. In other regions much atten-
ton is given to the rotation of crops.
Dr. Allen reports a growing friend
ship towards the experiment stations
on the part Of the farmers. When the
stations were first established they We're
regarded as an innovation, but in many
instances the farmers have come now
to depend upon them and most of them
regard the stations with favor.