1104 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



attitude toward agricultural education and experimentation, and in 

 the condition of agricultural science. To few men has it been given 

 to contribute a greater or more important part in this development, 

 and in the evening of life he may well contemplate these changes with 

 a sense of gratification at the progress made and of satisfaction at the 

 j)art he has played. 



The distinguished French scientist, Jean Dumas, declared more 

 than half a century ago that one of the most important lessons for 

 the farmer to learn is how to produce good barnyard manure and to 

 use it rationally; that the fundamental agricultural question is and 

 will remain the manure question. Investigations since Dumas's time 

 have but tended to confirm his views, recent investigators on the 

 subject especially serving to bring the matter into prominence and 

 to throw a new light upon the function and efficiency of such manure 

 in the soil. It has long been understood, of course, that the ferti- 

 lizing value of manure was not determined entirely nor possibly 

 maiuly by its content of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, but 

 by its jihysical action and other indirect effects not very clearly de- 

 fined or understood. 



Modern investigation, which has placed constantly increasing em- 

 phasis on biological processes in relation to soil fertility, is making 

 it quite clear that mamu'e is one of the most powerful agents com- 

 monly available on the farm for promoting or controlling these 

 processes. 



The soil bacteriological studies which have so rapidly multiplied 

 in recent years have shown that manure and similar organic mate- 

 rials, when projDerly j^repared, not only furnish a readily available 

 supply of the carbonaceous food required for the active growth of 

 soil organisms, but may be made to furnish an easy practical means 

 of inoculating the soil with beneficial organisms, thus indirectly in- 

 creasing their productiveness. 



These bacteriological studies are beginning to show how the injuri- 

 ous effects (denitrification, etc.), which have been ascribed to the use 

 of manure may be obviated by proper preparation and use of this 

 material. For example, Julius Rtoklasa, director of the chemical- 

 jihysiological experiment station of Prague, has recently worked out 

 a very conclusive bacteriological explanation of the advantage of the 

 practice, which is now generally recomuieuded by the best authori- 

 ties on the subject, of applying small quantities of manure at frequent 

 intervals instead of makiug large applications at longer intervals. 

 He shows that the frequent small applications keep the soil supplied 

 with a sufficieut and constant supply of the carbonaceous food re- 

 quired by the beneficial organisms, without bringing about the condi- 



