The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-11-30
REPRODUCING THE PLANTS.

REPRODUCING THE PLANTS.
doubts have been expressed by some
botanists whether plants grown anc
brought to maturity under the influence
of continuous light would produce fruit
capable of reproduction in order to test
this question, the peas gathered on Feb
ruary 10 from the plants which had beer
grown under almost continuous light
action were replanted on February is
They vegetated in few days, showing
every appearance of healthy growth
Further evidence on the same question
will be obtained by Dr. Gilbert, F. R. S.,
who has undertaken to experiment upon
the wheat, barley, and oats grown as
above stated, but still more evidence will
probably be required before all doubt on
the subject can be allayed
" am aware that the great weight of
the opinion of Mr. Darwin goes in favor
of the view that many plants, if not all
of them, require diurnal rest for their
normal development, and it is with great
ditfidence and without wishing to gene
ralize that l feel bound to state, as the
result OF all my experiments, extending
now over two winters, that although
periodic darkness evidently favors growth
In the sense of elongating the stalks of
plants, the continuous stimulus of light
appears favorable for healthy develop
ment at a greatly accelerated pace
through all the stages of the life of the
plant, from the early leaf to the ripened
fruit. The latter is superior in size, in
aroma and in color to that produced by
alternating light, and the resulting seeds
are not at any rate devoid of regermina-
ting power. Further experiments are
necessary, [ am aware, before it would
be safe to generalize. Nor does this
question of diurnal rest in any way bear
upon that of actual or winter rest, which
probably most plants that are not called
ANNALS require. The beneficial in
fuence of the electric light has been very
manifest upon banana palm, which at
two periods of its existence-viz., during
its early growth and at the time of the
fruit development-wa placed in Feb
ruary and March of 1880 and 1881 under
the night action of one of the electric
lights, set behind glass at distance not
exceeding two yards from the plant.
The result was bunch of fruit weighing
seventy-fve pounds, the bananas being of
unusual size and pronounced by compe-
tent judges unsurpassed in flavor. Mel
ons, also remarkable for size and
aromatic flavor, have been produced
under the influence of the continuous
light in the early spring of 1880 and
1881, and | am confident that still better
results may be realized when the best
condition of temperature and of proximity
to the electric light have been thoroughly
investigated
THE COST OF ELECTRO HORTICULTURE.
My object hitherto has rather been
to ascertain the general conditions Of
this growth, from which I am led to
think that the time is not far distant
when the electric light will be found a.
valuable adjunct to the means at the dis
posal of the horticulturist, making him
really independent of climate and season
and furnishing him with a power of pro
ducing new varieties Before electro
horticulture can be entertained as a prac
tical process it would be necessary, how
ever, to prove its cost, and my expert
ments of last winter have in part been
directed towards that object Where
water-power is available, the electric
light can be produced at an extremely
moderate cost composing carbon cleo
trodes, wear and tear of and interest
upon apparatus and machinery en-
ployed, which experience elsewhere has
already shown to amount to Cd. per
hour for light of 5000 candles. The
personal current attention requisite con-
sists simply in replacing the carbon
electrodes every six or eight hours,
which can be done without appreciable
expense by the undergraduates in charge
of the fires in the greenhouse. In my
case no natural source of power was
available, and steam engine had to be
resorted to. The engine of six nominal
horsepower which 1 employ to work the
two electric lights of 5000 candle-power
each, consumes ffty-six pounds Of coal
per hour (the engine being of the ordi-
nary high-pressure type, which, takes
at 2Os. ton, would amount to Cd. per
hour, or to Sd. per light Of 5000 candles
But against this expenditure has to be
placed the saving Of the fuel effected in
suppressing the stoves for heating the
greenhouses, the amount which l have
not been able to ascertain accurately,
but it may safely be taken at two-thirds
of the cost Of the coal for the engine,
thus reducing the cost of fuel per light
to Id. per hour. This calculation would
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