248 HOW TO LIVE IN THE COUNTRY 



revolution, or evolution rather, coming in the way 

 of country home making. 



I ought surely in this chapter to recall the won- 

 derful art of inoculating soil, so that it will be capable 

 of growing certain plants that otherwise it could 

 not. There are thousands of acres of alfalfa fur- 

 nishing three crops a year, on soil that before inocu- 

 lation would not yield even one crop. What are 

 these bacteria? It is hard to tell even yet; only they 

 are of infinite sorts, everywhere, in the land and air 

 and water. We have under laboratory examination 

 at least a thousand kinds, most of which can be put 

 to use, but some of which are most destructive ene- 

 mies. The new farmer has got to know a good deal 

 about these minute organisms that our fathers never 

 even heard of, or he will not be able to keep up with 

 his age. 



Every country home should be in this way a sort 

 of experiment station, not only for the interest there 

 is in it but for the contribution made to the public. 

 In horticulture just now we need a lot of new things, 

 and someone must either discover or create them. 

 We need an absolutely hardy red raspberry, equal 

 otherwise to the Cuthbert; also a thoroughly thorn- 

 less blackberry, equal otherwise to King Philip or 

 Eldorado. Among the strawberries it will do no 

 harm for experimenters to see if they can improve a 

 little on William Belt. We need nearly seedless 

 apples, and pears, and oranges, and especially grapes. 



Everywhere in orchard and garden, as well as in 



