The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-02-17
RESTORING WORN OUT LAND
a Remedy Perfected by the Federal
Depn ment OF ArricuIture

a Aemedy Perfected by the Federal
Department OF Agriculture.
The problem of restoring Worn out soil
and preventing deterioration is and al
ways has been one of the most difficult
known, constant source of worry and
veXation to the farmer.
A remedy has been found for the
evil, it is claimed, by Gilbert II. Gros-
venor in the Century Magazine, who
says that the ground can be so lnocu-
lated as to prevent deterioration and
to produce abundant crops. Statistics
are given to show that by this process
of vaccination or incubation worn out
lands in the different states have been
made permanently productive 1t is
stated further that this process, which
has been perfected by Dr. George f.
Moore Of the United States department
of agriculture, is simple one and
within reach Of every farmer who cares
to try it. The process is patented, but
the right is held by the department of
agriculture for the benefit of the farm
ers Of the United States.
Mr.. Grosvenor declares that barren
ness in soil is produced by the cxhaus-
ton Of nitrogen and that most plants
obtain nitrogen through the roots from
the soil. Some years ago German
scientist, DR.. Noble, discovered that
bacteria Of certain kind were neces-
sary to plant life and it was believed
that If these bacteria could be collect
ed and introduced into the soil any acre
Of ground could be inoculated against
barrenness and enriched by new sup
ply of nitrogen. DR.. Noble experiment.
ed for several years In the propagation
Of bacteria that could be used on worn
out land. He did not succeed. DR..
Moore of our own department of agri-
culture took up the experiments where
Noble left them and succeeded in de-
veloping type of bacteria in which
the nitrogen fixing power was perma.
nent. Then he invented a plan for the
distribution of the germs and for their
application to land.
The department Of agriculture is now
prepared to furnish the materials, or
bacteria, to revive the fertility of worn
out land. Il will send to the farmer
who makes application three small
packages, with directions how to use
them.
Package No. is to be dissolved in q
gallon of clear water Package No. 2
has cotton containing bacteria, which is
also to be dropped in the gallon Of wa
ter. Package No. contains ammonium
phosphate, which is to be added after
twenty-four hours to the mixture Aft
er twenty-four hours the solution IS
ready for use.
Seed mostened with the solution are
inoculated and are planted in the usual
way. To inoculate soil dry earth is
moistencd with a stipulated quantity
Of the solution. This is added to
larger quantity Of dry earth. and this
in turn IS spread over the surface of
the field to be inoculated, just as ma
nure would be spread. The result of
this system of inoculating either the
seed or the soil IS to increase the Yield
of beans or peas three or four fold The
crop which follows will be equally sue
cessful
The department Of agriculture gives
this discovery out, not as doubtful
one, but as having been clearly demon
strated and proved, and it is doing all
in its power to induce farmers to test
It.