VOL. XXI.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SATURDAY, JAN. 2,1886.
NO.l
Written for the Indiana Farmer.
Bacteria.
BY JOHN M. HTAHL.
A paper read by Prof. J. C. Arthur at
the late meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, has,
if possible, increased the interest in bacteria, or, as more properly named, schiz-
omycetes. From the paper it appeared
that the work of Professors Burrill and
Arthur has proven that pear and apple
blight are produced by a bacterium, and
determined that the bacteria m belongs to
the genus micrococcus (sphero-bacteria, or
bacteria of a spherical (the simplest) form.
Some years ago Prof. Burrill announced
the discovery of bacterium in the blighted
twigs of pear and apple trees, and conducted his experiments far enough to
render it very probable that this micrococcus was the cause of tne blight. The
work has since been completed by Prof.
Arthur, and he has demonstrated that the
bacterium is the real cause of tbe blight,
and not a concomitant of it. He proceeded in the same way pursued by Koch to
prove that the bacillus tuberculosus was
the cause of tubercular consumption, by
Pasteur in proving that the bacillus an-
thracis is tbe cause of splenic fever and in
determining the bacterium which produced
hydrophobia, by Farran in determining
the biictcriiiiii which produced Asiatic
cholera, and by Detmars in proving that
it was the bticillus suis which produced
swine plague.
THR  LINE OF  PROOF
is closely laid down by Prof. Loomis, the
eminent medical lecturer, in a lecture
lately delivered in New York. Three
steps must be taken. First, the bacterium
supposed to cause the disease must be
found and isolated; second, it must be
"cultivated" (reproduced) through several generations in order that absolute
purity may be secured, i. e. freedom from
any other bacterium, or anything else
which could possibiy produce the disease;
the germ must again be introduced into
a healthy living organism, and produce
the disease. In the case of pear and apple blight, Prof. Arthur has shown, conclusively, that the micrococcus amylivorus
of Burrill is always present in great numbers in the diseased parts of the tree; that
this micrococcus invariably produces the
disease when introduced, either directly from the diseased tree, or after repeated cultivations, into the soft parts
of hesftlthy trees, such as the fruit, flower
buds, young growing shoots, etc ; and that
if the culture liquid in which the micrococcus is grown be carefully filtered
through porcelain, so that the micrococci
are completely removed, the residue will
produce the disease, but the filtrate will
not. This is a crucial test and establishes
the point beyond dispute.
That ba.-teria are intimately connected
with and productive of
ALL INFECTIOUS  DISEASES
of man, beast and plant is now thoroughly established. The only difference of
opinion now existing between investigators is succintly stated by Prof. Loomis:
"There are at present two theories in regard to the infections which produce disease. The first is based upon chemical
processes; the  second upon the   multipli
cation of living organisms." The chemical theory maintains that after the infectious principle has been received into
the body it acts as a ferment, and gives
rise to certain morbid processes. The
other theory, the theory of organisms, or
the germ theory, maintains that the infectious principles are living organisms,
which, being received into the system,
are reproduced indefinitely, and excite
morbid processes which are characteristic
of certain types of disease. This latter
theory so readily explains many of the
facts connected with the development and
reproduction of infectious diseases that it
has been unqualifiedly adopted by a large
number of investigators and bids fair
shortly to be firmly established.
IF ESTABLISHED, WHAT THEN?
Enough has already been done to show
that the whole practice of medicine, the
entire treatment of all infectious diseases
of man, beasts and plants, will be revolutionized, and proceed upon an entirely
new basis. Instead of treatment being
founded upon the symptoms of disease, it
will be predicated upon the nature of the
bacterium producing the disease.
Either the bacteria must be destroyed
or the body rendered proof against it.
The first is impracticable. The bacteria
are invincible because of their mirtnem***
and number. They are distinguishible
only when subjected to a high magnifying power. They are in all stagnant
water, all decomposing liquids. The air
we breathe is swarming with them. The
dust of our dwellings abounds with their
spores in countless numbers, only awaiting suitable conditions to start into active
and rapid reproduction. They constitute
all malaria and all fermentation.
PRACTICALLY   THEY  ARE OMNIPRESENT.
Then we must make our own bodies and
the bodies of our beasts and plants proof
against them. How? The answer has already been given. By inoculating with
bacteria of reduced vitality, producing a
mild form of the disease, but which, for a
time at least, makes the inoculated organism proof against the disease. In {his way
we have prevented small pox for years,
Pasteur has just conclusively proven that
in this way he can prevent hydrophobia,
the bite of rabid dogs proving harmless.
And Ferran has gone far towards showing
tbat in this way Asiatic cholera can be
prevented.
Much remains—almost everything re-
maitiw—to be done. We know the bacteria
which produce but a few diseases; all must
be discovered. Then some cheaper and
very much easier way of preparing the
virus for inoculation must be discovered.
But it is not a wild assertion that before a
quarter of a century we will be able to
make our bodies proof against all infectious diseases; our swine against swine
plague; our cattle against pleuro-pneumonia; our sheep against foot rot; our
vines against mildew; and our trees
against blight.
Quincy, 111.
Written for tbe Indiana Farmer.
The Snowy Tree Cricket.
BY F. M. WEBSTER.
 1)
cecanthus niveus, serv.
There was considerable complaint at the
recent meeting of the horticultural society, with regard to the damage caused,
by this insect during tbe past season, and,
as winter is the proper season to take
measures to destroy them, a few words
regarding the insect and its habits, may
not be out of plaoe.
The insect does not injure the canes of
raspberry or blackberry by reason of their
food habits, but the female uses these as a
nidus, or place in which to secrete her
eggs, precisely as does the cicada, and
punctures them for that purpose.
A large stock barn of Benjamin Singleton, located eight miles from Greencastle,
was destroyed by fire. Two fine young
horses had their eyes burned oat and had
to be killed. Mr. Singleton narrowly
escaped burning to death while saving
two other horses.
The eggs are deposited in summer, not
only in raspberry and blackberry canes,
but in the twigs of the plum, peach, and
al-o the grape. According to Dr. Packard
they also oviposit in the bark of the elm,
in the South. These eggs are placed by
the female lengthwise in the pith, but in
two sets one on each side of the punctures
(see cut figs. a. b.) to the number of 200 or
more, sometimes extending them almost
continuously for a couple of feet.
The eggs hatch in May, and according
to Prof. Riley, instead of feeding upon the
plant, these young are actually beneficial,
living largely on plant lice. On reaching
maturity however they adopt a vegetable
diet.
There is another species, tecanlhus lali-
pennis (Riley) which deposits its in single
punctures at much longer distances apart.
This species is larger, and as the name indicates, has much longer wings.
Remedy: The only remedy known is a
preventive viz,—collecting and burning
the infected canes before the yonng hatch
and escape, which, while it will not save
those canes already injured, will reduce
the number of adults the  following year.
Samuel Steinberg, a Polish Jew, eighty
years of age, was found dead, Saturday
morning, the 19th, at his home. His wife
lay barely between life and death. The
aged couple has been suffocated by gas
from an anthracite stove.
THE BOHEMIAN OATS SWINDLE.
M. E. M. sends us the following clipping
from a Cambridge City paper:
A few days ago four men, purporting to
be from Union City, appeared at the residence of Ross Spencer, south of Dublin,
and sold him 20 bushels of Bohemian oats,
at f 10 per bushel, guaranteeing to take the
entire produce from this amount next season at the same price. By reason of this
purchase Mr. Spencer was allowed to become a member of the Bohemian Oats
Association. They also appeared at the
residence of Mr. Palm in the same vicinity,
but this gentleman had been forwarned
of the swindle, by reading an account of
it in the papers, and promptly declined to
purchase.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
The Bohemian Oats men are working
Cass, Miami and Howard counties, they
are selling some oats at f 10 per bushel and
agree to take twice as many at same price.
The sickle grinder men are here also.
Galveston. A. G.
Editors Indiana Farmer.
The "Bohemian oats swindle" struck.
us last year, and is being worked again
this fall and winter. I regard the thing as
a huge swindle, expose it all you can.
Saying nothing about common honesty,
some one must be badly left sometime in
the near future.
I bave nothing to add to what I have
read in the Farmer and ether papers., except, correspondents are mistaken in saying that the parlies selling the oats agree
to take twice as many bushels next year.
They simply agree that the company will
sell twice as many bushels next year, etc.
According to their bylaws the company of
next year will be composed entirely of
those who purchase this year. G. H.
Ossian, Ind.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
I see that several speak of the Bohemian
oats as a swindle, but I fail to hear of any
man being swindled on the Bohemian
oats. We have had the men here for more
than a year, and have raised the oats in
this county for two years. B. C. B.
Marshall Co.
—Our readers would like to have your
opinion of the oats and also of plan adopted
for introducing them. The oats may be
worthy of cultivating, but the method
taken by the traveling agents to sell seed
at extortionate prices, seems to us downright swindling.—Eds.
OUR POTATO CB0F.
Mr. Sanders Hollingsworth of this county gives us the following figures regarding
the potato crop of this State since 1880:
The crop of 1880 was 4,148,000 bushels;
'81, 2,400,000; '82, 7,264,830; '83, 8,353,412;
'84, 5,969,451: '85, 5,801,524, from which it
appears that we have had three better
crops than that of the present year. He
argues the wisdom of holding for better
prices. Burbanks are firm in Chicago at
63 cents in carload lots. The rot is bad in
the eastern States and in Canada. Last
May Burbanks sold for 70 cents in this
city, and he thinks they will reach as high
a figure next spring, at least. His preference Is the Burbank, as it is good cooked
in any manner, and yields well. The
Biue Victor is an excellent variety also, jf
So is the Mammoth Pearl, which is nearly '
like the Lady Queen. Both these are large
y.elders; 200 bushels to the acre being not
uncommon with them.