. Advanced biology. Biology; Physiology; Reproduction. BACTERIA IN INDUSTRIES 405. There are many different bacteria which grow in milk. A group attacks milk sugar and produces lactic acid, which results in souring. A similar process takes place in preparing linen fibers. Linen comes from the flax plant. If the flax is cut and thrown into pits and kept damp, certain bacteria will decay the cementing materials which hold the tough, strong fibers together. These fibers, when separated, are used for the manufac- ture of linen. This process of obtaining the fibers of flax is known as retting or ro
. Advanced biology. Biology; Physiology; Reproduction. BACTERIA IN INDUSTRIES 405. There are many different bacteria which grow in milk. A group attacks milk sugar and produces lactic acid, which results in souring. A similar process takes place in preparing linen fibers. Linen comes from the flax plant. If the flax is cut and thrown into pits and kept damp, certain bacteria will decay the cementing materials which hold the tough, strong fibers together. These fibers, when separated, are used for the manufac- ture of linen. This process of obtaining the fibers of flax is known as retting or rotting. There is an artificial process of retting which is not as successful as the natural water process. The natural process is used in Ireland and produces a fine grade of linen. The artificial process, used in the United States, consists of an acid treatment for loosening the fibers. It is much quicker than the natural method, but less perfect, since the acid may roughen the flax fibers. Bacteria are valuable in curing tobacco. The tobacco stalks with the leaves are piled into great heaps or hung from racks and allowed to sweat and then ferment at a fairly low temperature. This gives to tobacco its special flavor. In tanning leather, the hides are soaked, scraped, and limed or treated with acids to remove the hairs. The lime is removed, and the hides are put into solutions of tan- bark. During these processes, certain bac- terial fermentations take place, which make the leather soft and pliable. Bacteria in agriculture. Large quantities of the nitrates from the soil are built into proteins and protoplasm by the plants. In fruit juices bacteria "When thcsc plants are removed, they take change alcohol to acetic '? ^ ^ i/ acid. with them the nitrogen in the form of protein and protoplasm. The nitrogen of the soil would be exhausted in a comparatively short time if there were no ways. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been di
Size: 1581px × 1581px
Photo credit: © Library Book Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubje, booksubjectphysiology
