1902.] STORRS EXPERIMENT STATION — DAIRYING. 247 



tcria continues to increase until it frequently reaches one 

 and one-half billion per cubic centimeter." 



You see it's a struggle for existence. A case of the sur- 

 vival of the fittest and strongest. One and a half billion in 

 a cubic centimeter, which is a space equal to about one-fifth 

 of an inch. 



Prof. CoNX. Multiply that by four. 



Dr. Atwater. Six billion. Six thousand million of 

 them in that space of about the fifth of an inch. Six thou- 

 sand millions of them in a space about as big as the end of 

 my finger. " After this they begin to decrease rapidly in 

 numbers until only a few are left in the cream." 



The experiments thus far have not indicated which of the 

 types of these organisms are most concerned in their effect 

 upon the milk, but there are reasons for believing that the 

 miscellaneous bacteria are of great importance in determin- 

 ing the character, flavor, and aroma of the ripened product. 

 The study of that problem is to be continued by the station. 



Now I want to say a word about our co-operative experi- 

 ments with farmers. One method adopted by the station for 

 making practical application of science to farming is in co- 

 operative experiments with farmers. For instance, a means 

 for determining the lack of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, or 

 potash in a given soil, and the particular needs of plants for 

 these ingredients, is found in experiments known as soil 

 tests. The station has not only carried on these tests on its 

 own lands ever since its establishment, but for a number of 

 years was at pains to introduce these among farmers in dif- 

 ferent parts of the State, and to aid them in testing their own 

 lands and crops. The outcome of a large number of these 

 co-operative experiments ou soils of various kinds in different 

 parts of the State was summarized as follows in the report of 

 the station for 1892: 



Soils cannot be cultivated to the greatest profit without a 

 knowledge of their deficiencies as regards plant food. So'il 

 tests with fertilizers seem to be the best practical means for 

 ascertaining these deficiencies in particular soils. 



It appears that on the farms where the experiments have 

 been made heavy clayey soils need to be supplied with large 

 amounts of phosphoric acid in the fertilizers used; while light. 



