The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1906-06-22

gen, $3.50 tons upon every acre of
land. This is free, and the world
demands it fixed. that is it's union
with other elements that make it 80
useful and active. If man must fix
the nitrogen of the air in his own
bodily substance, he will so fix it
and within the quarter of century
which is his margin.
: Now let us see how far we have
progressed. If there exists certain
little organisms capable of fixing
atmospheric nitrogen, why not
breed them, and multiply them to
our need? It was discovered by
Helreigel that certain luguminous
plants, such as clover, beans, and
peas, have near the base of their
stalks little nodules, which turn out
to be little nitrifying organisms. It
was furthermore discovered that
soil inoculated with such microbes
would grow these plants even when
there is no manurial nitrogen pres.
ent. Why should we not blossom
the desert with clover and peas and
plow the plants into the ground to
afford fertilizers for a succeeding
crop of wheat? In 1896 this microbe
was produced in commercial form.
The experiment failed as nearly all
first experiments fail. The bacteria
died, and as afterwards found out,
for want of suitable food. But to
know the cause of failure was to
succeed. The necessary nourish-
ment is now supplied in the form of
grape sugar and peptones added to
the water in which they are distrib-
uted for spreading purposes. Sew
eral manufacturers are now using
this method for the whole produc-
tion of nitrifying organisms.
Professor Moore, of the United
States department of agriculture, is
the supporter. of like method. He
sends out among the farmers the
dried germs. With these he sends
two other packages containing the
food upon which they are to multi
ply when placed in water. But there
are many other nitrifying organ
isns besides those concerned with
leguminous plants, and investiga-
tion is busy with them. We have
every reason to believe that by mul-
+tiplying nitrifying organisms we
can in some measure restore to the
soil the fertilizing nitrogen which
we have wasted,
We have learned to harness the
lightning, and why should we not
therefore initiate Nature in this re-
spect and utilize the combining ef-
ficiency of the electric spark, and
burn the air to make our daily
bread. We have already found out
that in the powerful heat of the
electric arc the air is combustible
gas. But to burn it in the cheapest
way is still to be discovered. Not
only is the ignition point above the
temperature of the flame, but the
temperature of the union of the nj
trogen and oxygen is 80 close to
the temperature of it's dissertation
that nitrogen oxides are formed as
fast as they are decomposed. Num-
erous other difficulties have arisen,
such as the kind of arcs to use, what
kind of electrodes, should the air be
compressed, should oxygen be add
ed to it or should the air be left as
it is? Some firms have overcome
some of these difficulties, and by
this method they can produce nitric
acid for 212 cents pound, while the
market price is 5112 cents. But wheth-
er the acid may be combined with
soda to form the artificial nitrate at
a rate competing with the natural
product depends on the price of
soda. Other firms have ACCOMPLISH
ed the same thing. They admit
that the. electric nitre cannot COM
pete with the natural product.
Hence they are waiting until sci
ence brings it further within their
grasp.
But another method has already
been discovered, and it's success has
thrown into secondary importance
all of the other processes mention
ed. The substance used as fertilizer
in calcium cyanamide or kalkstick-
stof, as it is known in the market.
It is prepared from calcium carbide
and nitrogen, and was discovered
by Professor Frank of Charlotten-
burg while he was trying to secure
the calcium cyanide. When it is
placed into moist air it dissolves
into ammonia, and it was from this
property that it Began to be used as
fertilizer. When placed beneath
it is thought that after short time;
it changes into ammonia nitrate.
The success of this discovery is
still further increased by the fact
that later experiment l1as proven
that nitrogen-loving microbes can
feed upon this and increase at an
enormous rate. As calcium carbide
is made Of lime and coke, which are
cheap and available almost any.
where, and as anyone can use the
nitrogen of the air, the price Of kali