The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-04
TOLD BY THINKERS
A. and NJ. College Students Present Seven
Valuable Papers.
SOME INTERESTING TOPICS FOR FARMERS
Able Presentation of Valuable Aids and Helps to Far
mers and Dairymen, Made Before the North
Carolina Agricultural Society," at It's
Annual Meeting.
SOME INTERESTING TOPICS FOR FARMERS

The North Carolina Agricultural So
ciety held its annual meeting on Thurs
day night in the Hall of the House Of
Representatives
There was an excellent attendance and
the following officers were all reelected
for the coming year:
Hon. ]. A. Long, Roxboro, President
MIR. Joseph E. Pogue, Raleigh, Secretary
Capt. c. B. benson, Raleigh, Assistant
SECRETARY and Treasurer. The vice
presidents for the ten congressional dis
tricts were all reelected.
TIE following resolution, which had
been prepared by Col. A. NJ. McPheeters
and read by Mr.. r. H. Battle, was
unanimously adopted:
''Resolved l. That thanks of the asso-
citation are rendered to President Long,
who has presided over this association
with a strong arm and rare executive
ability
''Resolved 2. That thanks are hereby
due to Secretary Pogue and Treasurer
benson for their unceasing labors which
have brought about the present salts
factory result"
Col McPheeters, who had attended the
meetings for thirty years. was detained
by sickness.
4 unique feature of the meeting was
the presentation of seven valuable pa
pers on modern methods in agriculture
and dairyng by seven students of the A
and NJ. College members of the Rural
Science and Biological Clubs of the Col
lsge. These were listened to with mark
cd attention.
The questions discussed by the young
gentlemen were live and interesting sub
iects, and each young speaker showed a
thorough knowledge of the subject Sc
lected and clearly demonstrated the fact
that there is such a thing as real genuine
agricultural education being taught al
this great institution. 1t was practical
demonstration of the practical value of
the college. and the information showed
= that there had been intelligent research
and modern application made by the
young men, under 4 capable and enthusl-
astic corps of instructors.
A full synopsis of the papers read is
given, these containing the essential
points They give hints which can be
made of real value by every farmer in
the State.
The first paper was presented by Ca
det j. f. Colt of Rowan county, whose
subject was
BACTERIA AND THEIR RELATION TO
AGRICULTURE.
Bacteria are very simple bodies con-
s;sting of one cell, which may be either
in the shape of ball, short rod or a
ccrkscrew. Some idea of the size OF
basteria may be gained when we say that
if one hundred of them were TO be placed
end to end their total length would not
equal the thickness of ordinary paper.
The bacterial cell grows lengthwise until
a certain size is reached, when 1t breaks
in the middle and two bacteria result.
Some kinds divide in fifteen minutes
while the cholera germ takes twenty
minutes Thus if we start with one
cholera germ in active growth, in twenty
four hours we shall have something like
one billion trillion cholera germs
Now if any one is prepared TO question
the actual existence of bacteria
have q few samples here for to examine.
These tubes contain some beef broth,
which has been filtered clear and then
heated till all the bacteria in them have
is left in the broth will keep, but if the
plug IS taken out. bacteria fall in from
the air and cause the broth TO spoil. OIL
become rotten and putrid. The plug in
this first tube has not been taken out
and you see that it is clear and sweet
although it is over a month Old To the
second tube I added little dust. which
is always swarming with bacteria. You
see that the broth is rotten and offensive
The third tube I-left open in the labora-
tory for one hour. This is also spoiled
which proves that bacteria are present
floating around in the air. In the fourth
tube / put dust, and then heated the tube
This heating killed the bacteria, which
were in the dust. and YOU see that the
broth is sound In the fifth tube added
dust and also a drop or two of carbonate
acid. In this case the carbonate acid
killed the bacteria and so the broth has
kept sound.
A great many people think of bacteria
as enemies, but in reality bacteria arc
much more our friends than our enemies
Even the Dutrifactive germs which
caused my broth to rot, are our friends
for practically all decay is caused BY
bacteria. If there were no bacteria oil
fungi there would be no decay, and al