170 1 THE SPIRIT OF THE SOIL 



effect the Nitrogen reactions are to be found either 

 themselves or replaced by similar ones in all soils in 

 which vegetation is growing, and, as in the peat, so 

 in untreateds oil, they are to be found fixing Nitrogen 

 and giving rise to the necessary auximones. All that 

 the humogen does in essence is to furnish the 

 healthiest possible strain of Nitrogen-fixing organisms, 

 to provide the bacteria with improved conditions 

 which favour their rapid growth and development, 

 to supply both them and the plants with an ideal 

 organic food that they can readily absorb, directly 

 or indirectly, to furnish an increased supply of 

 auximones, and in a very marked extent to improve 

 the texture of the soil. When, therefore, the state- 

 ment is made that humogen is a substance suitable 

 for all plants and for all soils, it is a statement com- 

 parable with such a one as that Carbon dioxide and air 

 and water are necessary for all plants and for all soils. 



In this respect a comparison with water may 

 make the matter somewhat clearer. While water is 

 essential for all plant growth, its addition to a 

 water-logged soil would only be productive of harm, 

 a condition of affairs closely analogous with what 

 occurs when an excess of artificial or natural manure 

 is added to a soil that is already rich in the 

 material supplied. The analogy, so far as the peat 

 is concerned, is in no way comparable, for if humogen 

 is added to a soil already rich in foods the bacteria 

 grow luxuriantly, they increase in numbers, and 

 enable the plant to use to advantage the foods 

 already present. 



In order to obtain the best results from the use of 



