LESSON FOR THE FARM HOME 



L. H. Bailey, Director 

 Course for the Farm Home, Martha Van Rensselaer, Supervisor 



VOL. H. No. 31 



ITHACA, N. Y. 

 JANUARY 1, 1913 



SANITATION SERIES No. 2 



HOUSEHOLD BACTERIOLOGY * 



Martha Van Rensselaer 



Ixi the vegetable kingdom there are micro-organisms that are the smallest 

 and simplest plants known. They live in soil and in water and are found 

 on the surface of foodstuffs. Some 

 varieties prey on man and beast 

 and plant . They number hundre ds 

 of species, some of which are of 

 great value in nature's economy 

 and of great benefit to man, while 

 others are sources of danger to 

 the health of man and animal. 



Dust is a conveyance of such 

 micro-organisms. In itself dust is 

 practically harmless, although it 

 irritates the mucous membrane, 

 scratches furniture, worries the 

 housekeeper, and occupies space 

 needed for something else. We 

 cannot get rid of this old enemy; 

 there will be dust as long as 

 there are people and furnish- 

 ings. Wind is an agent for dis- 

 tributing it. Housekeepers have 

 probably always asked the ques- 

 tion, " Where does all the dust 

 come from?" 



THE DUST GARDEN 



Fig. 24. — Moving the dust and germs from 

 one place to another 



Let us have some dust gardens 

 to study, and note what will be 

 produced. A garden presupposes plant life. Every garden has weeds, as 



*The author is indebted for assistance in the preparation of this bulletin to Miss Maria Elliott, 

 Simmons College; Dr. V. A. Moore, Dean of the New York State Veterinary College; and R. A. Pearson, 

 formerly Commissioner of Agriculture for New York State. ' 



Published semi-monthly throughout the year by the New York State College of Agriculture at 

 Cornell University. Entered as second-class matter October 13, 191 1, at the post office e,t Ithaca, 

 N. Y.. under the Act of Congress of July 16, 1894. 



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