1918.1 PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 55 a 



DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY. 



CHARLES E. MARSHALL. 



The regular work of the microbiology department of the ex- 

 periment station has been a study of soil fertility under the 

 Adams fund. In addition to this there has been a limited allow- 

 ance for milk investigations. The department has also received 

 support under the De Laval fund, which has provided resources 

 for the study of milk clarification. 



The soil studies were diligently pursued throughout the 3'ear 

 by Dr. F. H. H. van Suchtelen, who severed his connection 

 with this institution Sept. 1, 1917. Dr. van Suchtelen, how- 

 ever, had reached the point where he had formulated certain 

 directive principles which will be a great aid to the develop- 

 ment and continuance of the problems involved. Dr. A. Itano 

 was appointed to take up the work where Dr. van Suchtelen 

 had dropped it, and has been pursuing it further and endeavor- 

 ing to carry it through to its concrete application. In this work 

 he has been assisted by Mr. George B. Ray, 



Before Dr. Itano was appointed to take up the study in soil 

 fertility from the microbiological standpoint he had been giving 

 considerable time to the study of soy bean preparations for 

 human food. In the carrying out of this work he not only- 

 tested out the work that had been done prior to his study, but 

 he devised several new formulae which possess much merit. 

 The result of his efforts, which continued over about four 

 months, has been published. 



Dr. Itano, with the assistance of Mr. G. B. Ray and Mr. 

 James Neill, has prepared cultures of nitrogen-gathering bac- 

 teria for legumes, and Miss Dondale has distributed these where 

 requested. The number ordered may be of interest: — 



