Evening journal., 1911-03-25
TAPPING The AIR
FOR FERTILIZER.
FarmIngtO BsCOms the Most Scientific
of Pursuits.

The National Magazine Is taking the
lead among magazines In bringing 10 the
attention Of the public the great strides
being made by expert agriculturalists,
thus enabling the masses Of those ir.ter-
ested IN the soil TO secure some OF the
advantages Of this expert knowledge.
The March number Of this magazine
contains an article by E. s. Mather. deal
ing with soil bacteria. their uses advan-
tages and disadvantages.
Man. during the ages that he has lived.
has made use Of most every living thing
that he could see. but II is only since
the discovery and Improvement Of the
magnifying glass that he has begun to
think and make use OF the creatures un-
~ recently unknown. The domestication
of the horse. cattle hogs. chickens. fruit.
vegetables. grain--the study and breed
ing OF animal and vegetable life-has
been marvellous IN results.
That there is life not seen by the
naked eye. yet can be seen through the
microscope and their value understood.
makes II possible 70 domesticate and
breed as with visible life and adopt this
life 70 mans needs
Mr. Mather deals with nitrogen bac-
/ terra in their use 20 renew and build up
exhausted soil. Nitrogen bacteria attach
/ themselves 10 the roots OF leguminous
plants. and by 50 doing extract nitrogen
/ from the air and feed IL TO the plant
These bacteria also store nitrogen in
noduies on the roots which Is left in the
soil after the crop Is harvested. The
United States Government--in fact. all
the leading governments OF the world.
have for some years been giving much
attention TO the study and use OF nitro
gen and all soil bacteria. and the agri-
cultural experts Of various governments
have produced wonderful results by
using the nitrogen bacteria. For sey-
eral years the u s. Agricultural Depart
ment made an attempt 20 aid the farmer
By sending out cultures on cotton. but
this plan was not successful. as most OF
the cultures died because OF lack OF mois-
/ ture which Is necessary to keep the bac-
terra alive. This difhcuity has been over
come by DR.. George carp Thomas. Of
Bloomheld. n. j.. who for the past four
or i've years has cultivated the nitrogen
bacteria in his laboratory and has been
able TO ship them IN sealed tubes with a
ventilated stopper and containing jelly
Thus the bacteria are given sufficient air
and food TO keep them alive and by this
: process he has been able 70 keep the
! nitrogen bacteria alive three and four
, years.
When the tube containing the bacteria
IS received by the farmer he keeps It un.
, IN he Is ready 10 plant. then dilutes the
jelly IN water and sprinkles the solution
on the seeds which are left TO dry and
when dry are planted.
The nitrogen bacteria is used only foi
leguminous or pod bearing plants. suci
as clover. alfalfa. beans peas, peanuts
The incubation OF these seeds not only
increases the crop from 10 10 500 pei
cent. but stores in the soil from ZOO tc
2.0O0 pounds Of nitrates for the fertiliza-
tion OF future crops. Thus land Is re-
newed for any crop one cares 70 plant
A New Jersey farmer bought land for
$500 per acre. This land was considered
worthless for farming. but by the use OF
the nitrogen bacteria be was enabled to
produce large yields Of alfalfa Such
land would not grow alfalfa without in
p oculation Similar results are being pro-
{ ouced IN many instances by farmers and
by agricultural stations. which means
r nat vast areas OF what has been consid-
e cred useless land viii be made to produce
}. prontaole crops. thus greatly increasing
|. their value