CHAPTER XI 

 GOOD AND BAD 



WHATEVER other divisions of microbes may be 

 made, that which most concerns mankind is their 

 division into Good and Bad. The Good are those 

 which render to us a good service. The Bad are 

 those which render to us a bad service. Happily, 

 the great bulk of all micro-organisms help us. 

 Their service is only good. Indeed, they are es- 

 sential to our very existence. 



Every one who thinks of it for a moment, must 

 see that in the Visible World all the infinite multi- 

 tude of living beings, both animal and vegetable, 

 are needful to man's existence. He could not live 

 on the earth without them. The same is true of 

 all living beings, both plants and animals, within 

 the Invisible World. With a few important ex- 

 ceptions, as will be seen in future chapters of 

 this work, these beings are essential to our ex- 

 istence on the earth. 



These beings assist in all forms of agriculture. 

 Many crops could not be grown without them. 

 Even the vast beds of coal which now furnish the 

 world with fuel probably could not have been 

 formed without them. 



Their service is indispensable to the dairyman. 

 For the fine flavor of his butter and cheese he is 



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