The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-06-21
! rhe eovernment,. Traae in Bacteria for Fsrmers.

The demand upon the Department of Agricul-
ture for bacteria is growing SO rapidly that one
hundred boxes a day are now being mailed to vari-
Gus parts of the country. In these days, when SO
much is written about tho menace of the microbe
when unprecedented efforts are made to purify
the food that we eat, the water that we drink and
the air that we breathe; when we are warned
not to shake hands with a friend, not to handle
money, and, above all, not to kiss; when we talk
learnedly about sterilization and disinfection and
antiseptic and prophylactic measures-it is start
ling to find a bureau of the Government devoting
itself to the development and propagation of the
deadly germs. But just as violent poisons can
be used as medicines, so certain bacteria, by caus-
ing decay and disintegration, promote the fer
tility of the soil, and can thus be made allies, in
stead of enemies, to mankind.
Nitrogen, as is well known, is indispensable to
plant life. The constant raising of crops for mar
ket results in the gradual impoverishment of the
soil, necessitating the use of artificial fertilizers
to restore nitrogen elements. The worlds visible
supply of nitrate of soda-mainly located in
Chile-has been diminishing of late, under the
enormous drafts upon it, at an alarming rate.
The atmosphere is stored with exhaustless sup
plies of nitrogen; but the problem has been, how
to utilize it. Neither animals nor plants have
the power of separating nitrogen from it's natural
combinations. This is the function of the bac-
terra aforementioned They are specially adapt
ed for peas, beans and other leguminous or pod
forming plants. The microbes form root nodules,
and render available for assimilation by the plant,
the free nitrogen of the air.
1t was the discovery of these characteristics
that led the Bureau of Plant Industry to under
take this novel traffic in protoplasm. The bacilli
are sent out In pasteboard boxes, in a medium of
raw cotton, and accompanied by careful direc-
tions, as considerable attention to detail is neces-
sary in the culture of the germs. Tt is of special
Importance that they should not, during the
period of their Development, be brought into con-
tact with microbes of another family, as a Ken
lucky feud might happen to exist between the two
tribes, and the resultant shindy would be disas-
trous to the young and tender bacteria. A mix
ture of brown sugar, phosphate of potash, sui
plate of magnesia, phosphate of ammonia and
rain water offers the best medium to nourish the
germs. The seed of the beans or peas is inoculated
by moistening it thoroughly with the LIQUID mix
ture. About three-fourths of a gallon is generally
enough for a bushel of seed. If it is desired to in
oculate soil, a quantity of dry earth is moistened
with the liquid, and spread over the field like fer
tilizer.
The boxes of bacteria are not distributed as are
the seeds that Congressman find so useful in soil
difying their constituencies. They are sent only
in response to individual requests, and are select
ed with special reference to the soil, the climate,
and the crop to be grown. 1t is only a question
of time when bacteria suited to other crops will be
discovered, and their advantages are so marked.
that the farmer of the future may regularly inocu-
late all his fields before planting.
W.. H. TODD.