The Washington times., 1905-04-09
Nitrate Supply Small.

his text.
Nitrate Supply Small.
DR.. Moore called attention to the fact
that the worlds supply of nitrates in
fixed form is very small, and. after ex-
planning that nitrogen is essential in the
growth of plants, said bacteria" is val
liable because it has the power of suck
ing nitrogen from the air down into
the ground thus stimulating the growth
of plants.
The germ with the long name is found
in many sections in great profusion and
it has been found that it fertilizes the
lard where it is found. When this was
disoovered, sail DR.. Moore, scientists
began TO experiment with the methods
for transferring the organism to
places which had not been fertilized by
it. This problem has been solved, he
said, and the experiments show that its
transference works wonders
Found in the Soil
In the soil,' said Dr. Moore, there
were found to be some years ago GER
tain bacteria, which had the power of
fixing nitrogen. This was discovered
from the fact that land when left to lie
1allow becomes more fertile in 4 few
years than it was when its cultivation
was stopped. 1t was admitted that some
slight amount of nitrogen could be car
rjed into the soil py the rains or even
by lightning, but it was also found that
these bacteria Increased the nitric prop
critics of the soil by forming little no
dulles about the roots of plants, and
drawing in nitrogen
The doctor mere showed on a screen
magic lantern pictures of the nodules,
and also of the bacteria in every shape
and number. He explained that the no.
dulles are of varying sizes and are found
in small and large numbers.
"A German professor" he continued,
soon discovered that these bacteria.
with the quality Of assimilating nitro
gen, could be transferred from the soil
to a highly nitrogenous medium and
kept alive The nitrogenous medium.
however, robbed the bacteria CT strength
ard. when transferred TO the SOIL again,
they did not work.
Experimenting With Germ.
Dr. Moore then explained in technical
terms that the Secretary OF the Depart
ment of Agriculture, realizing the i'm
portance Of the germ with the unpro-
nounceable name, had experiments
with it instituted by the department,
and it was finally found that the bac-
terra would live on media, free from
nitrogenous substances
1t was also found that, when put into
the soil again, they did big business,
elamplng themselves on the roots of
1egurninous plants. such as clover and
beans, and sucking enough nitrogen
from the air to make anything grow.
Having determined this, the depart
ment decided to send the little suckers
to thousands of farmers for experiments.
TO DO this, the officials packed the
germs on cotton, sent some nutrient
salts along to make them active when
put into a gallon of water, and told
the farmers to spray their crop seed
with the solution
Result Was Satisfactory.
The result, DR.. Moore said. was sat-
isfactory. Eighty per cent of the farm
ers reported that it greatly improved
such crops as bush beans, garden peas.
and alfalfa. One orange grower in Cal
nornia testified that 1t saved him
sco,O00 by the way It fertilized his orange
groves.
These organisms said DR.. Moore
pointing TO picture Of lot of little
specks and blotches on the screen. Took
very much like the common bacteria
you all know about" Everybody who
mao seen the germs thought they did.
Supply Is Limited.
The speaker explained that. heoause
OF the demand for the bacteria. the de-
partment could not furnish as MANY az
were wanted He promised that n
would do so later. as 1t is pushing the
business Of raising germs right along
1t had been important to find an eas,,
means of transmission of the bacteria
he said, because, until a short time
ago, the only way to transmit thero
known was TO take some of the sof,
where they were and haul 1t to the
areas devoid of them. This was soon
found TO be impractical on account Of
long distances and the impossibility Of
conveniently hauling large amounts nj
the soil impregnated with the bacteria
DR.. Moore showed many pictures con.
trasting the condition of plants treated
with the bacteria with those which
were not 50 treated. and the fcrme,
locked much healthier and more fri1it.
full.
If you meet a "pseudomonas radici.
cola don't kill ii. It's in demand and
pretty soon ii will have a pedigree
CIIpS OF THE T0NcJTE