The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-06-04
FARMING WITH BACTERIA.

| tHc Sattouo LoportnS StaS8eS ANON
the 6acteria-The Farmers Share In
tho Profits of These industrious Or
sanisms.
| BY HOWARD s. REED, PHI. d.
Concluded from issue OF May 2i)
FORMATION OF HUMUs
Whatever may be the real nature of
humus, the following conditions seem
to be necessary for its formation first a
suitable supply of vegetable or animal
material which is not too resistant to
the action of bacteria second, the prop
or kind Of bacteria must be present;
third, the soil must be aerated, free
acidity (sourness), of fairly constant
temperature and moisture content
The formation of humus does not take
place except through the agency of
bacteria and other micro organisms.
They are the tireless and valuable work
ers Under their attack the roots and
stubble of cultivated crops, the leaves
and twigs of forest trees, and also the
barnyard and green manures, are chang
ed slowly into the dark colored humus
substance.
The influence of bacteria on the quail
ity of the humus formed is also impor-
tant. The so.called mild humus or null
of arabic soils or of woodland is quite
different in its qualities from the raw
humus of the heaths, swales and
swamps. The differences observed are
due mainly, to the bacterial action and
mode of formation in the two cases
The mild humus is formed under con-
ditions where air is freely admitted and
through the activity of aerobic lair low
ing) bacteria 1t is not sour, but either
neutral or alkaline in reaction. The
raw humus is formed through the pro-
cess of putrefaction rather than that Of
decay, and is found unsuited to the
growth of bacteria until it has been
drained or lined. When the different
classes of laboring bacteria become in
stalled in such soil, they aid in rapidly
converting the raw humus into null or
mild humus.
| IT'S GREATEST VALUE
While humus is extremely important
both as chemical and as a physical
agent in promoting soil improvement,
its usefulness does not end there. Hum.
us contains different elements, one of
which is very essential for plant growth;
namely nitrogen. This humus nitro.
gen is derived from the organic nitro
genous compounds of the plant and
animal matter added to the soil as man
ures. One class of bacteria has labored
to convert the plant tissues into humus,
subsequently another class of bacteria
lays hold on the humus. and although
the work may progress slowly, it brings
about destruction of the humus.
The rate at which the soil humus
disappears is question of Importance
to the farmer. One farmer finds that
humus disappears with too great rapid
ity from his soil in spite of the fact that
he frequently makes large applications
of stable manure and green manure
The soil remains light colored, is cap
able of retaining only small part of
the rainfall, and cakes quickly after a
rain. On another class of farms there is
often difficulty in forming the proper
kind of humus. When manures are
applied they do not seem to be digested,
the soil becomes sour to an increasing
extent, and its crops languish.
The class of soils that suffer the most
rapid destruction of humus are usually
porous, sandy soils, or sandy loans,
warm and well.drained. The air circu-
lates freely in them down to consider
able depth. The air-loving soil bacteria
develop in great numbers and work
rapid transformations in the humus.
Decay under such conditions is really
slow burning, and the carbon is liberat-
ed just as if it had been destroyed by
fire.
On the second type of farms, consist
ing of fine grained, compact soils, the
conditions for bacterial life are different
These soils do not part as readily with
the rain that falls upon them; their
power of lifting water from the subsoil
is greater, consequently larger portion
of the air-space is occupied by water.
Furthermore, because of their compact.
ness the air does not enter nor circulate
as freely, hence the decay processes in
such soils are not so intense and the
humus may accumulate more rapidly
than it is destroyed, this is especially
the case in water logged soils and heavy
clays.
| DIFFERENCE IN CLASSES
| The difference does not stop here.
Great differences in the classes of bac-
terra are also found, Under these con-
ditions the airloving bacteria are dis
placed by other bacteria which are able
to grow and work in the absence of air.
Under such conditions it is to be expect
ed that the decomposition process will
be quite different Instead of having
decay which results in the formation of