Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1912-01-04
BACTERIA IN THE SOIL
Farmer Owes Immense Debt to
Little Germs.
Water-Logged Land Becomes Worth
les for Many Purposes Because OF
liability Of Organisms to De-
velop Owing to Moisture.

CBy UR r. @. PETERSON. Laboratory
OF Hacteroiogy. Utah Agricultural Col
lege.)
The average farmer seldom realizes
to the fullest extent the immense debt
he owes to the bacteria OF the soil
II is very often a surprise TO him to
hear that the continued fertility OF the
soil is due almost wholly to these
minute organisms which he never
sees, but which are present in astound-
ing numbers in every handful of soil
on his farm. soil exceptionally fer
tile is exceptionally rich in these Or
ganisms. dead. worn out soil is
one In which the organisms do not
occur. or II they do occur. refuse to
grow. Successful farm practice con
sists quite largely in supplying condi-
tons in the soil which are favorable
for the growth OF beneficial organisms
and detrimental to the growth OF
harmful organisms.
Cultivation OF the soil Is method
to supply air TO the organisms which
demand air. The application OF a GER
tain amount of moisture TO the soil Is
benefit In one way because OF the
fact that the bacteria OF the soil de
mand certain amount OF moisture
for their best growth. A soil which be
comes water-logged becomes worth
less for many purposes because OF the
inability OF the organisms TO develop
due 10 the overabundance OF moist
ure and other secondary influences.
The presence OF too much alkali In a
soil or OF an acid soil is likewise harm
full to the development OF the organ
'sms
In other words. the bacteria Of the
soil are an index TO It's fertility. and
every farmer. whether he knows IL or
not. Is a bacteriologist. in that he is
continually trying to cultivate these
unseen friends OF his by ordinary farm
methods
Recent advances In soil bacteriol-
ogy indicate that We are on the eve OF
new era regarding our knowledge OF
! soil processes Chemists have deur
onstrated that certain western soils
are immensely fertile due TO the pres
/ ence In them OF exceptionally large
quantities OF nitrogen compounds.
! Whether this nitrogen enrichment is
largely the result OF the action OF bac-
term Is question now before the
psychologists for solution II is
known that In Utah soils especially
and similar western soils there is
! germ called Azotobacter which thrives
with remarkable vigor This germ has
the remarkable power OF drawing. d.
rectly. plant food from the air and
storing II In the soil without the aid
OF any other plant The mysteries OF
Azotobacter are remarkable II some
times can be found In large numbers
In the soil. and sometimes seems
about TO disappear. Exactly what This
variation Is due to is not known but
undoubtedly much OF the mystery sur
rounding soil fertility can be solved
by finding out how these wonderful
germs act
II Is a part OF every farmers in
formation that such crops as alfalfa.
beans peas. clover and vetch add re-
markedly to the fertility OF the soil
The observant agriculture knows
also that on the roots OF these plants
are small nodules or swellings which
II has been found are The breeding
places Of bacteria which feed the
plant. uron which they live. di
rectly from the air II these bacteria
are absent from the soil tho plant In
some cases refuses to dcvc'op to its
full vigor This action o. the bac
terra places in the farmers hands a
weapon for always keep his soil
at high point Of fertility ny the
proper rotation OF crops IN order TO
utilize these powerful germs 10 his adj
vantage
BacteriOlogists are attempting to
discover the exact number of germs
which are important In soil fertility
maintenance. and further more what
ones are detrimental to the soil They
hope to be abb g. ultimately TO dag
nose the soil exactly as we now dag
nose tie human body. by findirg what
germs are growing in IT, They have al
ready devised methods OF enr'ching
the soil by growing In the laborator-
les bottles iull OF beneficial organ
isms. and pouring these on the seed
before II is sown Any visi or to the
bacteria laboratory of the ag icultural
college can see these germs growing
In small TASKS. each flask containing
from three millions to four billions
bacteria.
Fortunately most lnter.mounia ain
soils contain these germs In abund-
ance. so II may never be necessary TO
use them from the laborator, on the
soil. However. we may be able To de.
velop germs In the laboratory of an
exceptionally high power of soil en-.
richment. Even the most conserva-
tive scientist realizes that the future
OF scientific agriculture is very closely
associated with the future OF soil bac.
, terioiogy.
Along with probable methods OF soil
diagnosis may come methods of pro-