INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION IN PRAIRIE STATE 



Illinois is stated in the following proposi- 

 tions : 



"Soil nitrogen cannot be used by plants 

 until it is changed to the form of nitrate 

 nitrogen by the nitrifying bacteria. 



"Atmospheric nitrogen cannot be used by 

 any agricultural plants excepting legumes, 

 and even leguminous plants have no power 

 to obtain nitrogen from the air unless they 

 are provided with the proper nitrogen- 

 gathering bacteria. 



"As a rule, each important agricultural 

 legume must have its own particular species 

 of bacteria. 



"In general agriculture in Illinois, 

 whether it be grain-farming or ordinary 

 stock-farming, the growing of legumes is 

 absolutely essential as a part of any eco- 

 nomic system which shall maintain the fer- 

 tility of the soil; and for the successful 

 growing of legumes the presence and assist- 

 ance of the proper species of nitrogen- 

 gathering bacteria are also absolutely essen- 

 tial."* 



* Harwood, "The New Earth," pp. 45, 46, 

 191 



