The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-12

them. Placed under the microscope.
these turned out to be busy hives of
bacteria. Every nodule was a sort of
culture" for eating these infinites-
bnal beings. BY some process not fully
understood, the bacteria in these nod
ules take up the nitrogen of the air and
deposit it In durable form, thus add
ing greatly TO the productiveness of
the soil. An examination of the plants
showed that these nodules are found
only on plants described as leguminous
that is TO say, podbearing plants,
such as peas, beans, alfalfa, clover, etc.
The particular kind of microbes inhab-
iting these tiny nodules was developed
In cultures for scientific experiment
tation. 1t was found that the bac-
terra could be developed, then reduced
10 a quiescent state, without losing
their LIFE. After an indefinite period
passed under favorable circumstances
In this quiescent state, the bacteria
could be put into water of q certain
temperature, when Immediately they
would resume their enormous develop
ment.
Ii was suggested that the seeds of
leguminous plants might receive a bet
Ter start by being inoculated with
these bacteria. The experiment was
tried and proved remarkable sue
cess. The plants raised from inoculat-
ed seeds developed nodules of unheard
OF size. This singular development
upon the roots did not diminish at
all the productiveness of the plant
ABOVE ground, but, on the contrary in
creased 1t to an astonishing degree. The
larger the nodules, and, consequently,
the greater the permanent benefit re-
ceiyed by the land from them, the
greater were the crops of clover or
aifalfa that We're produced. 1t was
not necessary for the farmer to pillow
IN his alfalfa in order TO obtain the
oeneht of the nitrogen for the enrich
ment of his soil. He could make use
Of his crop, and at the same time re-
ceiye all the benefit Of the improve
ment of the ground.
The German AGRICULTURAL scientists.
VINO nave made marvellous advances
within recent decades, prepared "cul-
lures of bacteria for the purpose of
lnoculating the seeds, and sold them
TO the farmers of Germany.
1t seemed, indeed, that the problem
OF restoring wornout soils without ex-
pense or loss had been solved; and
German scientists prepared for sale to
farmers the germs necessary for the
lnoculation of the seed II was found,
however, that the results were ex-
ceedingly variable, and not to be de-
pended upon, for the reason that the
germs were not always active.
1t remained to perfect a culture"
which could be depended upon. In this
the highest success has been achieved
by DR.. Moore of the department of ag-
riculture at Washington, who Is said
to have decided to the department. for
the free use of the farmers, the results
Of his discovery or invention which has
solved the problem. The bacteria sup
piled by the department are placed in
water of a stated temperature about
thirty hours before the planting of the
seed, and when developed the liquid
containing them is sprinkled upon the
seeds. The results are marvellous.
But this is not all. Perhaps the
greatest discovery of all is that of the
incubation of the soil itself. 1t was
found that when the soil from a clover
FIELD was slightly sprinkled over the
surface of barren field ii seemed to
impart TO the latter a good deal of its
own fertility. Evidently the field was
inoculated with the germs brought
from the clover field. Why should not
the soil be inoculated directly
1t was found that by sprinkling the
wagon load of earth, and then scatter
Ing the latter over a large field, the
whole of the latter would become in
oculated. Even fields of barren sand
have been inoculated, land with aston
fishing results. Two small strips of
land were planted side by side, one of
which had been thus inoculated. while
the other had not. The yield from the
former was more than eight times the
yield from the latter.
There appears to be now no need for
sending to Peru for nitrates. 1t would
seem as il there need be no longer any
exhausted soil in America. The rosiest
view of the subject is taken by farm
ers who have tried the experiment of
inoculating their soil. The larger the
nodules developed upon the roots of the
alfalfa or clover planted for this pur-
pose the more enormous will be the
yield of the plant above ground: and
since there is no need to pillow in the
crop, the farmer does not lose the use
of his land while he is thus renewing
1T. Farms that are now practically
worthless may be made to yield large
crops, and all because we have learn
ed to form nitrates from the atmos-
phere instead of sending to Peru for
them.