INCREASED CROP PRODUCTION 117 



search for an efficient soil antiseptic. For some time it 

 has been known that partial sterilization increased the 

 productiveness of the soil. For nursery work cresylic 

 acid has turned out, on the whole, a suitable agent, 

 but it has disadvantages. What we want is some 

 effective method of treating the soil so as to kill all 

 organisms, excepting, only, the resistant spores of the 

 useful bacteria. Perhaps after the war some of our 

 present poison gases may be found to solve the diffi- 

 culty for us; if we could use them for purposes of 

 peace we might truly be said to have beaten our swords 

 into ploughshares. 



E. J. R. 



