ede oS oa lie es. SL Ei os 
TOXIC AND ANTAGONISTIC EFFECTS OF SALTS AS 
RELATED TO AMMONIFICATION BY 
BACILLUS SUBTILIS 
CHas. B. LIPMAN 
(WITH FIVE FIGURES) 
In the science of bacteriology, especially in that of soil bacteriology, 
our work has thus far only taught us enough to give added zest to 
investigation and the most important and interesting results are still 
forthcoming. RAMANN (23) well expresses it when he says, “In 
spite of numerous and important investigations we are still but in 
the first stages of our researches on bacteria and only at the very 
starting-point in our knowledge of soil bacteria.” In his haste to 
classify bacteria, to show their direct relation to many diseases, to 
apply his knowledge of them to the practical side of the dairy industry, 
and finally, to measure the net results of the activities of bacteria in the 
soil, the bacteriologist has left almost untouched one of the most 
important phases of the science of bacteriology, namely, the physi- 
ology of bacteria, which is of great scientific interest and practical 
importance. Especially is this true of the physiology of soil bacteria, 
which remains as yet a closed book, and since the writer is devoting 
his time to researches on soil bacteria in particular, it was thought 
best at first to experiment with some of these organisms. It may 
also be added that in California, with its thousands of acres of waste 
alkali land, and in similar regions elsewhere this study will undoubtedly 
prove to be of the greatest practical significance, especially when we 
have learned to coordinate the results obtained in similar investiga- 
tions on the higher plants with those derived from researches on soil 
bacteria. 
Since ammonification is the first great step in the transformation 
and simplification of the organic soil nitrogen, it was thought best to 
study the effect of various salt solutions on pure cultures of ammon!- 
fiers first. The work was carried out along the same general lines 
as to the preparation of solutions as the experiments of LorB on the 
_ effects of salt solutions on various forms of animal life, and the subse- 
105} [Botanical Gazette, vol. 48 
