Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-07-09
a New and VaIuahIa llsearar.

A pamphlet has been published by
the Philadelphia Society for PrOmOt-
ing Agriculture, which contains an
article by General A. j. Pleasanton,
first read before the society last
month. The article is destined to at
tract worldwide attention, FOR the
General claims to have made a won
derful discovery, which is so simple
in its application il may be practical
Iy made use Of by every farmer. For
ten years he has been conducting sci
entific experiments in regard to the
chemical powers of the sunlight, or
more especially in reference to the
magnetic, electric and thermic won
ders Of the violet ray and its effect
upon tho growth OF vegetation and
animals. So long ago as 1866, Sir
John Newton discovered that the viO-
Lee ray OF the prism had the greatest
indice OF ~refractiOn, and Sir John
Hersehel found thai the chemical
power OF the solar ray i5 greatest
in the violet ray. Taking these
facts, with the fact of the permanent
and all peryading blue color Of
the sky, 50 varying in intensity Of
color, according to season and lati-
tude, General PleasantOn made 8
number Of practical experiments,
which have produced the most WOn-
derful effects. He built a grspery,
causing the violet rays, by means OF
cOiOred glass, To fall upon the growing
vines. The young vines we're set out,
and at once commenced q most Won
derful growth, which has continued
up to the present time, a period of
some ten years. The first year some
OF the vines grew more than forty
feet ia length, and the second year
they were covered with bHnche5 OF
grapes, bearing some twelve hundred
pounds. This development aston
ished all who saw it, IS well it might,
when we are reminded that in grape
growing countries, that q period OF
time Of from five to six years will
elapse before asingle bunch of grapes
car be produced from q young vine.
Such a growth in seventeen months
was never seen before. The next year
these vines produced some two thou
sand pounds of grapes, and they have
continued to bear large crops Of fruit
without intermissiOn for the lsst nine
years.
An experiment upon pigs was made
with-a very gratifying result, and it
was found that those which had been
subjected to the influence Of violet
developed faster, and weighed
more than those exposed to the ordi-
nary sunlight. A most extraordinary
effect was produced upon a puny
Alderney bull cali, which was thought
to be too feeble to mise. When put
under the violet Fays, IN less than
twenty-fOur hours e marked change
took place, and from that time on the
development of the animal was Won
he ~manifesting great vivacity
and full masculine vigOr. The same
experiments have been applied to
poultry with great success. One ean
scarcely conceive OF the Unreasonable
value of this discovery to agricultural
There seems to be an intimate con-
nectiOn with the blue, stimulating ray
Of the sun, and electricity, which is the
very fountain head of the existence of
vegetable life. Herein consists the
secret Of successful agriculture. All we
have wanted heretofore has been some
practical application OF this secret to
agriculture, and this appears to be ina
Lair way of solution by utilizing the
blue rays of the sun after the manner
yet forth by Gen. PleasSnt0n.