BACTERIA IN NATURAL PROCESSES. Ill 

 RELATION OF BACTERIA TO AGRICULTURE. 



We have already noticed that bacteria play 

 an important part in some of the agricultural in- 

 dustries, particularly in the dairy. From the 

 consideration of the matters just discussed, it is 

 manifest that these organisms must have an even 

 more intimate relation to the farmer's occupation. 

 At the foundation, farming consists in the culti- 

 vation of plants and animals, and we have al- 

 ready seen how essential are the bacteria in the 

 continuance of animal and plant life. But aside 

 from these theoretical considerations, a little 

 study shows that in a very practical manner the 

 farmer is ever making use of bacteria, as a rule, 

 quite unconsciously, but none the less positively. 



SPROUTING OF SEEDS. 



Even in the sprouting of seeds after they are 

 sown in the soil bacterial life has its influence. 

 When seeds are placed in moist soil they germi- 

 nate under the influence of heat. The rich albu- 

 minous material in the seeds furnishes excellent 

 food, and inasmuch as bacteria abound in the 

 soil, it is inevitable that they should grow in and 

 feed upon the seed. If the moisture is excessive 

 and the heat considerable, they very frequently 

 grow so rapidly in the seed as to destroy its life 

 as a seedling. The seed rots in the ground as a 

 result. This does not commonly occur, however, 

 in ordinary soil. But even here bacteria do grow 

 in the seed, though not so abundantly as to pro- 

 duce any injury. Indeed, it has been claimed 

 that their presence in the seed in small quantities 

 is a necessity for the proper sprouting of the 

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