The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-08-19
Making Fertilizer From Dir.

Since the day that Dean Swift de-
scribed the philosopher Of Lapuea as
engaged In the task Of extracting sun
beams from cucumbers TO store up
heas FOR the winter, men have been
engaged In the task of extracting life
giving products from the inorganic
SEingdom without the interposit1on OF
tl1s vegetable or the lower animal
kingdom, and trying TO obtain 1000
directly from mineral and atmospheric
substances.
An important problem has been the
conversion Of atmospheric nitrogen IN
TO plant food. The air oVerhangang
eyery acre OF land is lsaIp to contain
2S, e0o. coo tons-of free nitrogen. Since
has s ton OF fertilizer, containing 2
or s per cent. OF ammonia, is consider
sd heavy application to an acre the
conversion Of 40 ponds OF atmospheric
n;troren from the immense quantity
ALWAYS bathing che plant would rem.
der unnecessary the application OF
sny nitrogenous fertilizer whatever,
this being the scarcest and most costly
Of all iertilizing products. Yet all sne
scientists with all their shrewdness
and patience were long bafled. Ihey
scould not find a way OF combining
free nitrogen 20 any extent IN the
laboratory. The only conyerters
Known were the leguminous plants,
psas, clover and che like. The method
a conversion was long unknown. But
The science of bacteria has revealed
the secret. Nitrogen is absorbed anc
cenYsrsed In the roofs OF the family
Of plants BY bacteria existing IN count
less numbers. Et has been proved Snat
II the absence of these little Workers
even legHnainons plants exhaust Sne
soil. Then another fact became Known
Bactsria and other germs can be cnl-
ivased, improved, or destroyed.
Scientists, such as Pssseuf and KOCH
have introduced remedies for diseases
long considered inclnrable. As the
;ouaIity Of buster depends upon the
breed OF bacteria as much as the breed
of cattle. bacteria tablets are now pre-
nared IN Denmark where the hnest
hntser is made and sold to expert
daixynen in all parts Of the world.
TnciSed by these facts the depart
ment of agriculture OF the United
States conceived the idea OF propagat-
ing nitrogen breathing bacteria n
sIargs quantities and inocuiating with
them leguminous plants and even bar
rem soils. The Winnsboro News and
Herald pubilshed a letter written TO
Mr. L e. Elliott Of that town by DE-.
B Woods, pathologist, In which It
is asserted that the problem has been
ssueessfully solved and that the depart
ment is nov ready to ship vast qnan-
titles Of bacteria to farmers WITH full
directions for utilizing them. The
letter contains full and interesting
account Of the process. After being
Dropagated the bacteria are reduced to
semi-inanimate condition, dued,
wrapped IN absorbent cotton and snip
ped to their destination. Or being
Immersed for time IN warm water,
they become frisky and are ready foS
work. Either the .leguminous plant
or Che soil can be ;noculated by q
simple process. a small package Will
inoculate an acre, and farmer can
carr In one pocket 160 packages con-
sa;ning 3, 4O0, ,O00, eco bacteria. The
deparSmenJ By the use Of these pre-
pared bacteria has increased the yield
from 100 30 !. 900 per cent. A piece OF
land that yielded 200 pounds OF IN
fersilized clover produced 1000 pounds
after incubation. 3,
generation or two ago any one who
dared to speak OF such things would
have been stigmatized as a healthy
descendant Of Baron Munchausea, but
the facts given above are contained
IN 8 serious report OF the department
OF agriculture and must be believed.
This Is the crowning glory OF 2 series
of wonderful discoveries in the agri-
cafsural field. DIR. Woods writes te
Z Mr Elliott: g We expect to be able in
the fall to furnish practically all the
leguminous crops teach of which has
different kind of bacteria laborersl /.
You VIII observe, however, in read
inc tho article that these organisms ars
applicable only to legnmes. Il you
propose to plant leguminous eroE
fhis fall or next spring We SHAH bs
glad to send yos the proper organisms.
Il you will notify as before plntang.
The State.