The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-10-15


with the bacteria developed great tub
circles and grew to great size even IN
the poorest soil
The nitrogen-fix fixing power of the bac-
terra developed by DR.. Moore is so ex-
traordinary that seeds soaked in the
solution VIII sprout and produce lux
Er1ous plants in quartz sand which has
been previously ignited to a red heat
IN order to drive out all nitrates.
Having secured type of bacteria
the nitrogen-fixin power OF which was
permanent, the next step was to OBJ
tain a simple means of distributing
them TO persons who desired TO inocu-
late their land. Experiments showed
that bacteria when grown upon nitro
gen-ffee media will retain their high
activity for a long time if carefully
dried out and revived in a liquid me-
dunn. DR.. Moore also discovered that
by using some absorbent. like cotton,
small piece of which will soak up
millions of the organisms, ard then by
allowing these cultures to become dry,
the bacteria can be sent to any part
of the world and yet arrive in perfect
condition.
Naturally DR.. Moore patented his
discovery. but then he did a very un-
usual thing-he decided the patent to
the Department of Agriculture in trust
for the American people To be sure.
his discovery had been made in the
government laboratories, but the gov
eminent, neither morally nor legally,
could claim any share in the disccv-
cry. It was indisputably his. DR..
Moore gave the patent to the people in
order that all might have the free use
of it. Doubtless he could have made
a generous fortune if he had formed
a company and exploited the patent,
as the German company made a good
profit from their unreliable Mira gin,
which they sold ;lt a dollar a bottle.
A simple method of distributing the
germs that bring fertility having thus
been found, the announcement was
made that the Department of Agricul-
ture was prepared to send applicants
free of charge enough inoculating ma
terial for several acres.
A portion of inoculating material as
it is mailed to the farmer by the govern
nlent consists of three different pack
ages. Package No. 2 contains the cot
ton with it's millions of dried germs.
Packages and are the media or food
by means of which the farmer can
multiply the germs. The department
inclose explicit instructions how to use
the bacteria, as follows:
DIRECTIONS FOR USING INOCULA-
TING MATERIAL.
(Method patented in order to guarantee
the privilege of use by the public. Let
ters- Patent No. 755,519 granted March
%, 19O4.)
Put one gallon of clean water (per-
ferably rain-water) in clean tub or
bucket and add No. 1 of the inclosed
package of salts Containing granulated
sugar, potassium phosphate, and mag
nessium sulphate). Stir occasionally
until all is dissolved.
Carefully open package No. (con-
tanning bacteria) and drop the inclosed
cotton into the solution. Cover the
tub with a paper to protect from dust,
and set aside in a warm place for
twenty four hours. Do not heat the So
luton or you will kill the bacteria-it
should never be warmer than blood
heat.
After twenty-four hours add the con-
tents of package No 8 containing am
phosphate). Within twenty
hours more the solution will have a
cloudy appearance and is ready for use.
To Inoculate Seed:
Take just enough of the solution to
thoroughly moisten the seed. Stir
thoroughly so that all the seeds are
touched by the solution. Spread out :
the seeds in shady place until they
are perfectly dry, and plant at the
usual time just as you would untreated
seed. The dry cultures as sent from
the laboratory will keep for several
Do not prepare the liquid Gull !
ture more than two or three days pre-
vious to the time when the seeds are
to be treated. as the solution once made
up must usually be used at the end of .
forty-eight hours.
To Inoculate Soil:
Take enough dry earth so that the
solution will merely moisten it. Mix
thoroughly, so that all the particles
of soil are moistened. Thoroughly mix
this earth with four or five times as
much, say half a wagon-1oad. Spread
this inocuIated soil thinly and evenly
over the field exactly as if spreading
fertilizer. This should be done just be-
fore blowing, or else the inoculated soil
should be narrowed in Immediately.
Either of the above methods may be
used, as may be most convenient.
Enough germs are sent in each little
package to inoculate seeds for from one
to four acres. The package can be
carried in your pocket, and yet does
more work than several cart-loads of
.ertilizer. 1t costs the government less
than four cents cake, or less than
cent an acre. and saves the farmer
.hirty or forty dollars, which he would
nave to spend for an equal amount
If fertilizer. Different cultures are
ent for different crops.
The results have been surprising. If
Malthus were living, he would have TO
evise his calculation of the time when
he world will be so crammed with peo-
de that it cannot feed them.
Even more startling than this is