The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-11-24

mails, and all that would seem necds-
sary would be that the air cells
would draw directly from the air all
of the nitrogen that the plants need.
But this is not the case in point of
fact. There are only certain plants
that seem to possess the faculty of
inhaling this food plant and develop
ing itself without artificial assist
ance. 1t seems strange contrast of
nature that fields of grain, bathed
and permeated with the lile-giving
food from head to base of stem,
should perish for the lack of their
most abundant surrounding. yet
such is the case. The only nitrogen
that can feed these plants is that
which is drawn from the ground
after having been made into soluble
shape. In order, therefore, that the
life of the grain may be maintained,
the nitrogen must pass from the air
to the soil and there be formed into
nitrates. If this were simple pro-
cess, all would be we'll, but nature
has decreed otherwise. Neither the
soil nor the grain can absorb the nj
trogen direct from the air, and when
the harvested crop is carried away
much of the richness of the soil goes
with it.
As alluded to above, the rotation
of crops is a measure tended to les
sen the sterilization of the soil, but
even this must ultimately fail. After
a certain number of groupings, farm
ers have been accustomed to put their
fields in clover, which would result in
partly restoring its original fertility.
1t is here that science steps in to aid
our husbandmen. There are certain
plants belonging to the family of leg
umes, of which clover, cow peas and
sofa beans are members. These
plants, in way, notye mastered by
science, have the faculty of drawing
directly from the air not only sufh-
Gent nitrogen for their own needs,
but a permanent enrichment of the
soil as well. This work is very much
stimulated by what is known as ino-
culation of the ground. This is
done by bacteriae, which are agents
that give to clover and other legulni-
nous plants the power of thus en-
riching themselves. The bacteriae
are found in the roots of these plants,
where it is supposed in response to
the irritation that they cause, little
tubercles are formed which swarm
with microbe organisms.
The discovery of these bacteriae
has led to remarkable results by our
Department of Agriculture By
means of cultivation, type has been
discovered which is far more vigor-
Gus than its natural ancestors.
These germs are prepared alive, and
in a dried condition can be sent any,
where in the country, needing only
moisture to revive their activity
Farmers can take this bacteria, and
by soaking it in water containing
sugar, potassium of phosphate and
magnesium sulphates, inoculate
seeds that are about to be planted.
The work has even been carried fur
ther, and the soil itself has been mo
culated. The Department of Agri-
culture is now sending small quanti-
ties of this soil to different parts of
the country for the purpose of expert
ment. Farmers will use the ground
thus treated for the purpose of rails
ing any or all of the leguminous
plants, which will in turn draw from
the air the nitrogen so much needed
for the ordinary crops.
Pages might be written on the in
teresting experiments that are now
going on throughout the country.
1t is indeed the day Of the book
farmer" and the time is not far dis
tant when we will look to him to
give US the means of enriching our
soil without the use of commercial
fertilizer.