HARMFUL DUST-PLANTS 



The harmful work of bacteria and molds so far is 

 seen to consist of two kinds, the production of unfavor- 

 able conditions in food supplies, and in or on other 

 property, as mildew on clothes, books or furnishings ; 

 in short, diseased conditions of our possessions. These 

 diseases, if not cured, may be serious enough to destroy 

 the property, while they may also cause similar diseased 

 conditions in our own bodies, more or less severe, 

 which may result in death. 



Bacteria sour our milk, our sauces, our fruit juices; 

 they not only "ret" the flax when we wish them 

 to, but they rot wood when we do not want them to ; 

 they make meat putrid and butter rancid ; molds 

 spoil our bread and jellies and clothes. All these things 

 the dust-plants will do unless we prevent them, be- 

 cause they are in the world to soften, to decompose, 

 and thus to "get rid of what has ceased to live." All 

 such substances are food for them and feeding is their 

 way of working. 



We must know how to prevent their work when it 

 interferes with our interests. We must prevent their 

 growth by removing conditions which are favorable or 

 we must kill them. 



An experiment which anyone can try will suggest 

 what favorable or unfavorable conditions are and in 

 what way science seeks to help the housewife to pre- 

 serve both her property and her health. 



63 



