OCR Text |
Show MS mm am Of BACTERIA IN THE SOU 0 , Farmer Owes Immense Debt is Wattr-Leggs- that question Is causing no end of ri- V A J 17. - ' ex Jilt 4 Y strength, they were able to strike tbelr first effective blow. Tbe Introduction of foreign educational meth ods, the sweeping abolition or tbelr ancient and useless "balls or learning." tbe establishment or foreign schools, modern factories and the con struetlon of extensive railroads have all combined to awaken the younger generation of Chi nese to tbe fact that tbey were not as they supposed, tbe superior of all other races, but a century behind the least progressive cation. And, that there might be no doubt about It. Japan administered an effective lesson, and with eyes wide open, the supercilious Celestial realize! that his national existence was In peril, Aroused from his long lethargy the tonderous Chinese giant turned about and clamored for tbe education of the west, and no scholar on ." j awmweort I. SM . i vtn A! isolate'! - I - ors 4S In 1861, and ior seven years there waged a civil war In the Middle Kingdom that far exceeded In bloodshed tbe conflict between the North and the South In the United States. And It fs an Interesting coincidence, that these two national upheavals were in progress at the same time and both Inspired by the same, sentiment, love or country; while In a atlll more striking manner did this mighty e protest become a counterpart or the American revolution In Its avowed purpose to claim Us country ror itself and banish forever beyond the conflnea of the empire the hated Manchu usurper. That the victory of Washington and his loyal hosta was not duplicated by the Chinese revolutionists at that time was due to the ract that their efforts were Impeded. Interfered with and Anally successfully resisted by that same power whose unjust domination of these American States eventually resulted In the Immortal Declaration of Independence. And yet how much is known of the history of Kwok" the Pin Rebellion, J1"8 tbUIal or "The Great Kingdom of Peace?" The cable and' the wireless have so brought the ends of the earth together that today, we read In the morning paper what haa In the evening on the other side of transpired the earth. But In those days, China waa a land burled In mystery, practically unknown and unexplored and whose political and economic condl-tlon- s attracted but little attention from the outside world, and so far as we are concerned we were too deeply engrossed In our own gigantic struggle to maintain the unity of our own states, to give a thought to what was mm 1 1 K 4 r 4r1 Chi-nes- transpiring across the raclflc. Tbe history of the Tal Ping rebellion Is one of Intense Interest and full of tragedy, pathos, and romance, but Is merely referred to here aa being tbe first cohesive effort made by the Chinese to regain the government of their own land and free themselves from the thraldom of a foreign rule. Tbelr efforts were unsuccessful. The movement was born in the spirit of enthusiastic patriotism but it ended In total riot and us leader, tiung iisieu unuen, nrsi raisin the cry.' "Down with the Manchus" and his en- thusiasm was infectious. The Chinese turned to hlra as a divinely appointed saviour of their land, and he. being more or less of a visionary type, believed himself to be inspired and commissioned by Heaven to accomplish this herculean task. He had received a certain amout cf Christian training and it Is an astonishing fact that the whole movement was primarily based on Christian principles. But that his religious aeal exceeded his good Judgment and sound reason is Indicated by the fact that while he to Christ as the Elder Brother, he im- piously termed himself the "Younger Brother" thus placing himself on an equality with Divini:...,, ty.'".- this and other faults of Notwithstanding Judgment his cause appealed to the great mass of tbe people, thousands flocked to his victorious banners and his war against the Manchu government was a series of uninterrupted triumphant achievements. City after city fell before his patriotic assault and Wuchang, Hankow and Han Yang . FT SJ minds or plans or tbe leaders or this new movement, during the past decade young China has been at school. Bright and intelligent fvJVoof ctv&Mieuooa m met the fate which was theirs In this last conflict, they fell Into the hands of the conquering hosts of rebels. Success waa almost within their grasp when the Peking government became alarmed and frantically appealed to the British government to send a soldier who could train an Imperial army to meet and quell the Tat ping rebels. Gen. Charles Gordon was commissioned for this purpose, and In cooperation with LI Hung Chang he succeeded In putting Into the field an efficient and well disciplined army which was afterwards known aa the "ever victorious army" for they never lost an engagement with the enemy, and In six months he bad complete-- , ly exterminated the Insurrectionists. Defeated and discouraged, the rebel leader, Hung Hsleu Chuen, retreated to Nanking and there committed suicide. The Manchu government was saved to continue its dominating oppressive sway and the distinguished Englishman who came to the rescue has ever since been known as "Chinese Gordon." Note the difference between tbe attitude of the powers towards the Peking government in the recent rebellion and that of England towards the Manchu despot nearly fifty years ago. The powers refused to aid or respond to the Peking government's appeal for assistance, finai dally or physically, apparently recognizing that the Chinese have a just grievance and a perfect right to adjust It In the only way possible. During the past few weeks Tal Ping history has been duplicated, but with a higher purpose and more intelligent direction. The battle cry was the same and '"Down with the Manchu" found an echo throughout the length of the Yang Tse valley, in hamlet, town and city, aboard ungainly Junks and northward along the shimmering lines of the new railroad until It was heard within the crenelated walls of the Forbidden City and the son of heaven abjectly apologized for past neglect and mistakes of the throne and granted every demand of tbe revolutionists. There was nothing vague or visionary in the obli- youths from tbe Dragon land have traveled beyond the seas and ' in this and other lands have learned that the preparation for future accomplishment Is more to be desired than the slavish devotion of tbe worship of ancestors and a complacent contemplation of hoary ages past. Chinese graduates of American and European universities have imbibed with tbe various feature of their scholastic curriculum a spirit of Independence, and hence the new nationalism In China which has succeded in breaking the bonds of ancient tradition and humiliating servitude. The startling sucesslve Incidents which the eye of the world on central China were not tbe result of any local prejudice but tbe culmination of a 'carefully prepared plan which occupied the earnest and serious thought of the Young China party for a number of years. A movement of such stupendous proportions demanded leaders of exceptional ability, and that these were found and proved their fitness has been demonstrated to the world by their deliberate thoroughly organized methods and their avowed determination to not permit their zeal or success to betray them Into any act wnlch might be offensive to any foreign power. anymg tbe leaders of the revolutionary party, or the "Constitutional party," as they prefer to be termed, is Dr. Sun Yat Sen, whose whole life has practically been devoted to the task of bringing about the present crisis. His career has been both thrilling and picturesque. The lot of the reformer in China is not a happy one, and the persistent agitation of Dr. Sen soon evoked the wrath of the authorities with the result that it was officially decided that his head would be worth fifty thousand dollars. The fearless young reformer, however, believed It was worth a good deal more to him and so for Its preservation he became an exile from his native land. The organization which he and his colleagues succeeded In creating waxed mighty In numbers and Influence. In constant and close touch with developments Id China and .he progress of the reform party, he was able to direct, at long distance, its various movements until theuisycho-logica-l moment arrived when, confident f their que-eyed S Worth anti-foreig- n lrt E. O. rETBUHON, Ulmrstorr Utah As rlcultural Col-!- .) The average farmer seldom realizes to the fullest extent tbe Immense debt bt owes to the bacteria of tbe soil. It Is very often a surprise to him r that tbe continued fertility of the oil Is due almost wholly to these minute organisms which be never sees, but which are present In astound ing numbers In every handful of soil on his farm. A soil exceptionally fertile Is exceptionally rich In these or A dead, worn out soli Is ganlams. one In which tbe organisms do not occur, or If tbey do occur, refuse to grow. Successful farm practice consists quite largely In supplying conditions In the soil which are favorable for the growth of beneficial organisms of and detrimental to tbe growth - anx- Man-cbua- Land Cjcomes d h ' Iss' for Many Purposts Because of Inability of Organisms to Develop Owing to Moltture. (By of iety In the capitals or the various powers and la one which only the ruture can answer. Twice during the- three century history or the Manchu domination or the Chinese race baa tbe cry been heard: ' "Down with the The first attempt made by patriotic Chinese to rid themselves of tbe tyrannical and oppressive yoke or their Tartar conquer Little Germs. , WAKKNKD by tbe world'! rest, tbe last empire of eld, old things, of unclmitKlnK Ideas, of reverence for I ho past, hat sha ken off the shackle of auto cratlc, tyrannical government and western noiloni of liberty, or Industrial activity and mod ero progress have taken pos- j session of the celestial empire. Victory after victory has placed th constitutional party In almost complete control of the country. In a frantic effort to save some remnant of Ita tottering power the throne Issued edict after edict abjectly acceding to the varloua deniandi of the revolutionists. Hut Manchu rule In China la ended forever. Wu Ting Fang, twice ambassador of his country to Washington, and one of the moat famous and distinguished statesmen In China, has declared lilmHf In favor or a republican form or government and hua taken a leading place In the counsels or the constitutional party. A republic, rounded upon lines similar to tho government or the United States Is to be the future of China. What Influence this awakened giant of Asia may exert In world politics i earth Is more keen and Intellectually alert to learn and acquire than the yellow man of the Orient. To the western world this revelation of the spirit of revolt and change in China seems very sudden. Most of us believed that the emsuperstitions, was still repire, with world-olfusing to admit the blessings of modern progress. We believed that It was untouched by the revolutionary fire which In twenty-fivyears has changed the Japanese nation, miraculously, so that It has shuffled off Its old faith, and Us old moralities, adopted the shoddy clothes of Europe, darkened its cities by the black smoke of busy factories, made slums of , established a great army Its and a great navy to fight a war which has brought it to the verge of bankruptcy, adopted the philosophy of greed and grab, and generally learnt the beauties and joys of western civilization. China still seemed to be sleeping In tbe sun, or dreaming away Its life In the old faith of smiling contempt for the rush and roar of western progress. All travelers from China bear witness to the d e flower-gardens- harmful organisms. Cultivation of tbe soli Is a method to supply air to the organisms which demand air. The application of a certain amount or moisture to tbe soil Is a benefit In one wsy because or the ract that the bacteria or the soil de mand a certain amount or moisture ror tbelr best growth. A soil which becomes water-logge- d becomes worth less ror many purposes because or the Inability or tbe organisms to develop due to the overabundance or moist ure and other secondary Influences. Tbe presence of too much alkali In a soil or or an acid soli Is likewise harmful to the development of the In other words, tbe bacteria of the soli are an Index to Its fertility, and every farmer, whether he knows It or not. Is a bacteriologist. In that he Is continually trying to cultivate these unseen friends of his by ordinary farm methods. Recent advances In soil bacteriol ogy Indicate that we are on the eve of a new era regarding our knowledge of soil processes. Chemists have demonstrated that certain western soils are Immensely fertile due to the presence In them of exceptionally large quantities of nitrogen compounds. Whether this nitrogen enrichment Is largely the result of the action of bacteria Is a question now before tbe It Is bacteriologists for solution. known that In Utah soils especially and similar western soils there Is a germ called Axotobacter which thrives with remarkable vigor. This germ has the temarkable power or drawing, di rectly, plant food from tbe air and storing It In the soil without tne aid of any other plant Tbe mysteries or Axotobacter are remarkable. It some times can be round In large numbers In the soil, and sometimes seems about to disappear. Exactly what this variation Is due to Is not known, but undoubtedly much or the mystery surrounding soil fertility cat. be solved by finding out how these wonderful gorms act It Is a part or every farmer's In formation that such crops as alfalfa, beans, peas, clover and vetch add re markably to the fertility of the soil. The observant agriculturist knows also that on the roots or these plants are small nodules or swellings which It has been round are the breeding places or bacteria which reed the plant, upon which they live, di rectly from the air. If these bacteria are absent from the soil the plant In some cases refuses to develop to Its full vigor. This action or the bacteria places in the farmer's hands a weapon for always keeping hla soil at a high point of fertility by the proper rotation of crops In order to utilize these powerful germs to his ad vantage. Bacteriologists are attempting to discover the exact number of germs which are important In soil fertility maintenance, and further more what ones are detrimental to the soil. They hope to be able, ultimately, to diagnose the soil exactly as we now diagnose the human body, by finding what growing In It They have altemperate, contented, cheerful, laughing char germs are acter of the Chinese peasant, and to the intel- ready devised method of enriching In the laboratorligence, the courtesy, the equanimity, the kind- the soil by growing of beneficial ies full bottles organ- of calm Chinese the genthe liness, philosophy on seed these the and Isms, pouring a tleman. When England was tangled forest inhabited by naked savages, China was the before It Is sown. Any visitor to the home of literature and the arts. For two thou- bacteria laboratory of the agricultural sand years it has bad its poets and its great college can see these germs growing teachers and its men of science. Many of our In small flasks, each flask containing modern Inventions were discovered by Chinese from three millions to four billions sages a thousand years ago, and abandoned as bacteria. foolish or dangerous toys which would not add Fortunately most to the happiness of the human race. When soils contain these germs in abundtheir passions are aroused the Chinese people j ance, so It may never be necessary to nave certainly revealed a savage cruelty equal, use; them from the laboratory on the but not surpassing, perhaps, the cruelty of the soil. However, we may be able to dewestern world In the middle ages. But if all velop germs in the laboratory of an things are measured up it seems that they have exceptionally high power of soil enmur h to lose, as well as much to gain, in virtue richment Even the most conservaand In happiness, if they adopt the standards tive scientist realizes that the future of European civilization. For, after all, our Bf scientific agriculture is very closely western system of society has not, in spite of associated with the future of soil bacall our "progress," given a great measure of teriology. or material comfort to the average happiness Along with probable methods of soft laborer. llagnosls may come methods of protection of tbe soli by artificial Inoculation with bacteria and methods of soil cure from diseases by bacterial "Abner, bow about this Salome dance you've Inoculation. These statements read booked for the opery house? ' Some of our like romance, but the development of best citizens are a little worried about It' bacteriology as a science within the "Ob. I've tut out all the obiecUooable fea- last two or three decades has thrown open a field so Immense that the told-es-t tures, you know." "That's Jest It. We was afeereet you would.' Imnglnation is staggered. Inter-mountai- n Life in Plunkville ., |