The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-25
ANNUAL PRE-IiENTEN

mer that under suitable conditions sandy land could be made to produce as much alfalfa as land many times it's value. After following the advice given, and planting spring crop of inoculated Canadian field peas and oats, to get green manure, the land was Timed and good seed bed pre- pared for the alfalfa. Twenty pounds of alfalfa seed were inoculated with nitrogen bacteria and planted in Au- gust; notwithstanding a protracted dry spell shortly after planting, the seed germinated, and by the following No vember a fine heavy stand was ob- tained of from 21k to feet in height, showing a dark green color and with nodules, of bacteria we'll developed on the roots. Dr. Earp- Thomas haS been busy for the past three years showing many farmers possibilities in what is known as poor or exhausted soils. The ed some years ago the vast impor- tance of using nitrogen bacteria in poor soils and tried to aid the far mers by sending out cultures. but these cultures proved of little value, as they were sent on cotton, with the want of moisture. Other govern ments have made similar attempts to send out the bacteria in various forms but met with similar results. These difficulties were not overcome until pr. Thomas invented the ventilated stopper, which is placed in a bottle containing a jelly in which the bac- teria live and multiply. Thus. air, food and moisture are supplied and life sustained for several years. The nitrogen bacteria theory has now been proven to the satisfaction of agricul> tural experts, and there is now no real basis for the belief that the soil of the eastern states is exhausted, but that all 1t lacks is nitrates and humus- The air has an inexhaustible supply. which may be tapped and placed back into the ground for plant food. A green crop, turned under, supplies humus.
 The nitrogen bacteria are the means by which nitrates are supplied. These bacteria attach themselves to the roots of leguminous plants. form col- onies on the roots in the shape of lit-' tie nodules. These creatures extract nitrogen from the air, feed 1t to the plant, which by actual results shows an increase in plant weight of from 10 to 600 per cent besides storing up nitrates in the soil for future crops amounting to 600 to 1000 pounds per acre.
 Thus Nature provides process Of renewal for the one essential which experts have long considered must be supplied to the soil in the form Of chemical fertilizers. The nitrate beds of the world are fast becoming ex- hausted and the outlook is serious. With new light and hope for the dis credited eastern farm lands, there is to come renewed interest in the move ment back to the farm, for where there is profit there will be great numbers of persons eager to get it.
 Profit from the farm will mean a real bed of roses in the front yard and the real odor with it. The growth of cities will be healthier and the in habitants will be better satisfied. for with an abundant food supply near at hand from thrifty farms will coma lower prices and better quality.
 The National Magazine, realizing the importance of the revival of farm ing interests in the eastern states, be- gan in the March number a series of articles dealing with this subject. In- terest is already aroused in many sec- tions and the coming year will nd doubt see an increased demand fo1 farm lands which for some yeart have been selling at only a fraction of their real value.