Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 251, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1914 — STEAM OF BENEFIT TO SOI[?] [ARTICLE]

STEAM OF BENEFIT TO SOI[?]

English Gardener* Make Use of Unique (Scheme to Destroy Insects—Aleo Increases Fertility.

For some jtime certain grower* of tomatoes, cucumbers and similar vegetables for the London market have been injecting steam into the soil with a view to destroying certain Insects and slugs, says Popular Electricity. It is reported that the plan works very well for that purpose, but the operation brought to light an unexpected fact; namely, that the soil thus treated increased greatly In fertility, so greatly, in fact, that the ordinary amount of manure cannot be used* ah terward.

This effect has been explained aabeing due to the sterilization produced by the steam, which kills the phagocytes or protozoa which In ordinary circumstances keep down the number of bacteria in the soli whose operations are beneficent in turning orgUb ic nitrogen Into a form suitable*toff plant food.