The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-08-10
BEN. PLEAsANroHs, GREAT DIscoy,
IQlI HE Es.aHA.

IL @NEsf @ fsNS#Ak
| GesfgAsJ. Pleasanton has made al
extraordinary discovery in relation tt
the influence of the blue color of the
sky in Developing animal and yegeta
bic life. The results of experiment.
made for the purpose of testing his
theory he has embodied in paper
which was recently read before the
Philadelphia Society for promoting
Agriculture, which has been published
i in 9 blue covered pamphlet, printed
in beautiful blue ink. sssEHsslfs'
Gen. PIeasanton believes that the
blue color of the sky, for one of its
gas, supplying carbon to vegetation,
an6 sustaining both vegetable and an
imal life with its oxygen and that the
magnetic, electric, and thermic power
of the suns rays reside in the violet
ray, which is a compound of the blue
and red rays. Acting on this belief,
the General built cold grapery with
every eighth row of glass on the roof
of q violet color, alternating the rows
ON the opposite sides of the roof, so
that the sun in its daily course should
cast a beam of violet light on every
leaf in the grapery. The result was
astonishing. In a few weeks after the
grape vines were planted the walls and
the inside of the roof were closely
covered with the most luxurient de-
velopmentl of foliage and wood; and
in five months some of them had
grown fOrty-iFe feet in length, while
they were an inch in diameter at the
distance of one foot above the ground.
More extraordinary yet, the second
year of their growth these vines pro-.
dueed twelve hundred pounds of
grapes, both the clusters and grapes
being of an unusual size and deEelop-
ment, while in old grape-gfowing
countries from five to six years win
elapse before o single bunch of grapes
can be produced from Young vine. (
Encouraged by the wonderful sue
cess of his grapery, Gen. Pieasanton
determined to try the influence of
blue light on animal organizations
He buff pig pen very much on the
same principle as that employed in
his grapery, and separating a litter of
pigs into two parties, he placed half
of them in an ordinary pen, and the
other half in this improved piggery.
1t was fonnd that the pigs ssNbjeeted|
to the blue orviolet light Increased fnaI
weight more rapidly than the others,
though the result was not so satisfac-
tory as the experiment with the grape
vines. This is hardly to be wondered
at, however, for pigs are such contra
ry brutes that one could hardly expect
them to be faVorably Influenced by
But if the success of the pig exper-
iment was not so great as was antici-
pated, the General was more than sur
prised with the effect produced by the
influence of the blue light on an AL |
derny bull calf. This calf when it |
was born was so puny and weak that |
no one expected it to live. Placed in |
D pen under violet glass, the animal |
began to improve, and
shortly afterward developed in the |
most extrasrdinary manner. z In fifty
lays he gained six inches in height,
carrying a suitable lateral develop
nent with it, and in about year he
,ame to maturity. He is now one of
.he best developed animals to be found
anywhere. The General naturally |
leenis this discovery to be of immea-
,urable value to an agricultural people.
Il colts can be influenced by blue
light to mature in one year instead of
i've, with no greater supply of food
han would be used for an immature
Inimal in the same period; if the
youth and tenderness of q, calf can be
combined with the majestic proper
ions of the OK, with no additional
;ost for the extra weight; if the growth
# spring lambs and spring chickens
an be forced under glass like early
.sparagus, Gen. Pleasanton, in this
discovery, has indeed bestowed a boon
lpon his agricultural fellow. 5laborers
which will afford him greater renown
han the most brilliant achievements
IS Commissioner of Internal Revenue.
1t is unfortunate however, that Gen. /,
in the pardonable enthu-
iasm which his remarkable discovery,
as aroused within his breast, has all Z
owed himself to tread on dangerous
round, which hescertainly does when
e suggests that the application of the
ew blue-light principle might advan- q
ageously be introduced i'll the family t
We should regret to ipok )
pom babies in that light, and protest
gainst such an innovation.
We protest against such an expert
lent., q May Heaven save us from8any
1vention that will make the growing
of Y oung America 4
iature more rapidly than they already &
ol Children are only too rare now
7days, and the proposition to abolish
hem altogether is dreadful. Let Gen.
leasanton beware, lest by carrying
1e application of his great discovery
30 far, he shalt come to be regarded 8
} an objectionable wretch rather than Z
beloved and venerated benefactor.-
Z. Y. Sun. gsaz sW .gilial7zIe 4