The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-07-01
Midnight Sunshine on Northern Fields.

MlAAlth III Dull1h hi bh " -
A Norwegian scientist, Professor
S~chubeler, has recently reported the re-
suits ofhis investigations to determine
the effects Of the midnight SUN during
the scandinavian summers on the wheat
and other crops. The sight of the SIN
shining near the Arctic circle through
the twenty four hours c~onsecutively for
weeks together has attracted many to
the North Cape; but few have reflected
on the phenomenon except as q physical
curiosity. In the northern parts OF
Norway its uninterrupted radiation is
felt for two months (irom June 20 TO
August 23), and the powerful influence
Of the almost unbroken sunlight on
grains and fruits, as revealed by Pro-
lessor S~chubeler's researches and ex-
periments, is astonishing. His expert
ments were made with samples of Ohio
and Bessarabia wheat, both of which
every year acquired n richer and darker
hue, until finally they assumed the
yellow-brown tint of the hardy home
grown Norwegian wheats. Similar
color changes occurred in Indian corn
and different kinds of vegetables trans
planted from foreign countries under
the Norwegian skies. In no case
did the experimenter find any i'm
ported plant capable Of being grown
in Norway lose in intensity of color
after continued cultivation there, while
with many garden plants of Cen
trail Europe after acclimatization they
seem to increase in size and weight.
The conclusion he draws is that wheat,
corn and seeds imported from a warmer
cline, when cultivated under the unin-
termitted sunlight OF a Norwegian sum-
mer, become harder as well as larger
and better able to resist excessive cold.
This discovery is of the very highest
moment for the farmers and grain-grow-
ers of our Northwestern States and Ter
ritories, whose losses IN some years
from slight excuses of cold (when the
snow covering for the winter wheat is
too thin) are enormous, but which may
possibly be avoided by planting seed
wheat hardened and invigorated in
a Scandinavian climate and by its pc
culiar solar influences. There are many
reasons fer urging this suggestion on
their attention, with a view to the de-
velopment of our great grain growing
resources. Professor S~chubeler's dis
covery- the result ohhirty years. ex-
perimentation-has been powcrfully,cor-
roborated by similar skilled researches
Of other investigators, showing that
some plants attain in Lapmark, near or
within the Arctic circle, great robust
ness and depth of color.
These are not, however, the only ac-
QUESTIONS that plants make by exposure
to a night and day sun. The aroma
and flavor of wild and cultivated fruits,
capable of ~ripcning in northern lands,
are much greater than when grown
under more southern skies. This is
particularly observed in the small
fruits which are so grateful in the early
part of the warm season, requiring in
our latitude but a short period of heat
10 mature them. DR. SchubeleI main
tains, as the result of his patient and
careful experiments, that day and night
light unintermitted cngenders aroma, as
high temperature %engenders sweetness;
and, while the high favor is obtained
at the expense of sweetness, the latter
quality is of minor Importance. How
ever conflicting tastes may settle this
question the experiments of the Nor
wcgian scientist derive double interest
from the recent inquiries of nr. Sic
mems, illustrating the power of the elec-
trio light when applied 10 plants and
vegetables to quicken and %invigorate
their growth. Both Investigations.
though entirely independent, have led
to the same scientific result.-NeW
York Herald.