Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-02-04
Power Of Growing Plants.

1HE new DIX O0SefC6T says: OuT
readers will remember an article pub
lished IN the Observer about a year ago
detailing the very interesting expert
ments carried on at the Massachusetts
Agricultural College, Amherst, to illus
trate and measure the power OF sap in
circulation in growing plants. Presi-
dent Clark has been carrying on another
experiment during the last season, the
results Of which are truly marvellous
Some accounts Of the lifting power of a
vegetable in its growth, as determined
from week to week by putting peculiar
test upon squash, have been published
from time to time, but the whole prog
ress of the experiment was detailed by
President Clark at a late meeting of the
Massachusetts State Board of Agricul-
ture, in a lecture on Plant Growth"
We take the account from the report in
the Nea0 England Farmer:
It had been known for a long time that
plants exerted considerable force during
their growth. Beans, acorns and other
y
rise up from the soil in the early stages
of their growth Mushrooms have been
known to lift fag-stones weighing eighty
pounds from their bed in garden-walks,
and shade-trees in our streets frequently
lift the pavements and even crowd in
basement walls under our houses with
their roots. The force measured in a
black birch was equal to raising column
Of water eighty-siX feet, while the sap
was in motion. The idea was conceived
at the college of measuring the force of
a growing plant and a squash was Sc
lected as a subject for such an expert
ment It seemed to be the most avail
able Of anything we could try. So last
spring a bed of rich compost was pre-
pared and placed in one of the glass
houses at the college, where Observa-
tons could be made night and day
through the summer and during all
weather. The soil was placed in large,
tight box or tank, in which the roots
were made TO stay, and during some of
the Stages Of the squash's growth it was
watched and hourly observations made
and recorded for a whole week at
time.
Squashes are made up of fibrous It's
sues. the outside fiberS run lengthwise,
then another set, like bands, cross these,
holding the squashes together the other
way, and then, on the inside, is another
set running lengthwise, to which the
seeds are attached. (The embarrassed
squash was now exhibited, showing I'M
signs of having been driven
in a harness much too small for it, A
strong box had been prepared to re-
Ceive it, with boards set edgewlse in the
bottom on which the squash was laid,
like q baby IL its cradle; but, unlike the
baby il was told to lie there during it's
entire growth to the period of mature
squasihood. Iron bolts and straps easily
secured the cradle, but something must
be done 10 keep the growth from rising,
or if it did rise, to indicate the power
eXcTted An iron CRATE, or harness,
made open TO admit light and air, as the
squash would rot in tight-closed box,
was formed, in shape similar to the sad
die Of . cart harness. This was placed
over the squash, and weights placed
upon it, first a light one, then, as it was
lifted by the growth Of the squash,
heavier one was laid on-twenty-five
pounds, then fifty, next 100, then 200,
and after that 200 at a time.
1t soon became difficult to find weights
or room for them. The saddle got full.
Then an inch bar of steel was arranged
on the principle Of steelyards; one end
being fastened down to the cradle bed
of the squash, and at one foot from the
enc, or just over the middle of the
squash bearing was made, and beyond
this hearing weights were hung as
weights are hung upon weighing-bar
Weights were piled on till the bar broke.
Then q chestnut timber five by six inches,
good and sound, was put in place of the
broken bar, and loaded with bags of
sand and anyils till it held six of the
latter and as many of the former as
LbCiC W do IOOnl 1OI. Dt1Il juS Squash
grew, and as it grew it raised the sand
and anyils one after another as they
were piled on, until one morning the
timber was found broken under its
weight, but the squash all right, and in
creasing in size hourly. A heavy, wide
cart-tire was bolted on to the next lever,
used for stifening it, and this one
lasted till the harness crushed IN the
shell of the squash on one or two Of its
bearings. Thus ended the expert
ment Of testing the vital force of
growing squash. AT this time e. it had
tipped the beam under weight OF two
tons and go pounds, and had carried on
its back. but without lifting it, load of
500pounds for ten days.
Many harness gals were made during
the trial, but IN every instance the sqtash
healed itself n short time, and came
out healthy al last with perfectly formed
plump seeds s;ad cavity IN each half.
when cut-aS it was before the audience
large enough for a large-sized hens
nest. The meat or rind of the squash