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more by their own efforts. By following this principle of feeding 

 he developed a permanent type of bacteria in his laboratory 

 possessing five or ten times more power to fix free nitrogen than 

 the original germs had possessed. The bacteria had gained 

 strength, vigour, and self-reliance, and when turned out of the 

 laboratory, prospered like all healthy bacteria. Legumes inocu- 

 lated with the bacteria developed great tubercles and grew to 

 great size even in the poorest soil. 



The nitrogen-fixing power of the bacteria developed by Dr. 

 Moore is so extraordinary that seeds soaked in the solution will 

 sprout and produce luxurious plants in quartz sand which has been 

 previously ignited to a red heat in order to drive out all nitrates. 



Having secured a type of bacteria the nitrogen-fixing power of 

 which was permanent, the next step was to obtain a simple means 

 of distributing them to persons who desired to inoculate their 

 land. Experiments showed that bacteria when grown upon 

 nitrogen-free media will retain their high activity for a long time 

 if carefully dried out and revived in a liquid medium. Dr. Moore 

 also discovered that by using some absorbent, like cotton, a small 

 piece of which will soak up millions of the organisms, and then 

 by allowing these cultures to become dry, the bacteria can be 

 sent to any part of the world and yet arrive in perfect condition. 



Naturally Dr. Moore patented his discovery, but then he did a 

 very unusual thing — he deeded the patent to the Department of 

 Agriculture in trust for the American people. To be sure, his dis- 

 covery had been made in the government laboratories, but thego- 

 vernment, neither morall}'- nor legally, could claim any share in the 

 discovery. It was indisputably his. Dr. Moore gave the patent 

 to the people in order that all might have the free use of it. Doubt- 

 less he could have made a generous fortune if he had formed a 

 company and exploited the patent, as the German company made 

 a good profit from their unreliable Nitragin, which they sold at a 

 dollar a bottle. A simple method of distributing the germs that 

 bring fertility having thus been found, the announcement was made 

 that the Department of Agriculture was prepared to send appli- 

 cants free of charge enough inoculating material for several acres. 



A portion of inoculating material as it is mailed to the farm by 

 the government consists of three different packages. Package 

 No. 2 contains the cotton with its millions of dried germs. Pack- 

 ages I and 3 are the media of food by means of which the farmer 

 can multiply the germs. The department incloses explicit in- 

 structions how to use the bacteria, as follows : 



DIRECTIONS FOR USING INOCULATING MATERIAL. 



(Method patented in order to guarantee the privilege of use by 

 the public. Letters Patent No. 755,519 granted March 22,1904.) 



Put one gallon of clean water (preferably rain-water) in a clean 

 tub or bucket and add No. I of the inclosed package of salts (con- 

 taining granulated sugar, potassium phosphate, and magnesium 

 sulphate). Stir occasionally until all is dissolved. 



