84 FOOD FOR PLANTS 



each of these instances these forms are the product 

 of bacteria or other life. The chemistry and physiol- 

 ogy of Nitrogen is the chemistry and physiology of 

 living things. Without Nitrogen there could be no 

 life as we understand it. It is absolutely essential 

 to all organized life. In view of this it is all the rnore 

 remarkable how completely inert the element Nitro- 

 gen is, and how tremendously potent and active are 

 some of its combinations. 



The Nitration or proper predigestion of plant nour- 

 ishment cannot occur without some basic substance 

 being present and can only best proceed at favorable 

 summer temperatures. At these temperatures, when 

 sufficient moisture is present, this action proceeds 

 normally and thus prepares unavailable forms of 

 Nitrogen for assimilation by growing crops. It can- 

 not proceed when it is too cold or too wet. In most 

 cases, it is the process of Nitration of the non-Nitrate 

 forms of Nitrogen chiefly into the Nitrate form that 

 makes them available for plant growth. 



The vegetable world stores and elaborates avail- 

 able Nitrogen into forms suitable for animals, includ- 

 ing man, to feed upon and the living processes of 

 animals in turn utilize these forms of Nitrogen for 

 their growth. Without Nitrogen there can be no 

 growth, either vegetable or animal. The key to suc- 

 cessful cattle feeding, as is well known, lies wholly 

 in adjusting rations to the gluten carriers. 



Nature is always prodigal and these processes 

 while subject to natural law, permit waste from the 

 economic standpoint. Nothing from the physical 

 standpoint, however, is actually lost. Matter merely 

 changes its location. 



