Morning journal and courier., 1881-09-06

c5ournal alrb Courier !.
Tuesday Morning, Sep. 6, 1881.
ELECTRICITY IF THE GARDEN

Tuesday Morning, Sep. 6, 1881. ELECTRICITY IE THE GARDEN. Dr. c. W. Siemens, the celebrated electri- ! elan, has long been of the opinion that the electric light was capable of producing upon plants effects really comparable to those of
 solar radiation, that chlorophylle was pro- duced by it, and that bloom and fruit rich in 1 color and aroma could be developed by it's aid. He also believes that plants do not, as a | rule, require g period of rest during the I twenty-four hours of the day, but make in
 creased and vigorous progress if subjected in
 winter time to solar light during the day and
 to electric light during the night. During l the whole of last winter he made experiments | to test these theories, and the remarkable re- I suits of those experiments have just been | made public. >.s--s.--.. portion of ground in the experimental conservatory was sown with mustard and other quick-growing seeds and the field was | divided into equal radial portions by means of framework excluding diffused light but admitting light at equal distances from the electric arc. The first section was under the 1 action of the naked light, the second was 1 covered with pane of clear glass, the third with yellow glass; the fourth 1 with red, and the fifth with blue glass. The relative progress of the plants was noted from day to day, and the differences of effect upon the development of the plants was suf- fciently striking to justify the following conclusions viz: Under the clear glass the largest amount of and most vigorous growth was induced, the yellow glass came next in
 order, but the plants. though nearly equal in
 size, were greatly inferior in color and thick ness of stem to those under the clear glass;
 The red glass gave rise to lanky growth and yellowish leaf, while the blue glass produced still more 1anky growth and sickly leaf. The uncovered compartment showed stunted growth with very dark and partly shriv- elled leaf. It should be observed that the electric light was kept on from p. m. till a. m. every night except Sunday during the experiment, which took place in January, 1884, but that diffused daylight was not ex- cluded. At intervals also the circulation of air through the dividing framework was pro- vided for. After this experiment Dr Siemens decided to surround the electric with a clear glass lantern and more satisfactory re- suits were soon observable. Thus, peas which had been sown at the end of October produced harvest of ripe fruit on February 10, under the influence, with the exception | of Sunday nights, of continuous light. Rasp- berry stalks put into the house on December l 16 produced ripe fruit on March 1, ,and straw | berries put in about the time ! produced ripe fruit of excellent flavor and ! color on February 14. Vines which broke ! on December 2G produced ripe grapes of ! stronger flavor than usual on March 10. l Wheat, barley and oats shot up with extra | ordinary rapidity under the influence of con- tinuous light but did not arrive at maturity. l Their growth having been too rapid for their strength caused them to fall to the ground | after having attained the height of about 1 twelve inches. Seed of wheat barley and 1 oats planted in the open air and grown under | the influence of the external electric light l produced, however, more satisfactory suits. Having been sown in rows on Janu- ary 6, they germinated with difficulty on &C., count of frost and snow on the ground, but developed rapidly when milder weather set in and showed ripe grain by the end of June, I electric light until the beginning of May.
 Doubts have been expressed by some bot anists whether plants grown and brought to maturity under the influence of continuous 1 light would produce fruit capable of repro 1uction. In order to test this question the peas gathered on February 10 from the plants which had been grown under almost continu- ous light action were replanted on February Is. They vegetatsd in few days, showing l avery appearance of healthy growth. Con- ,erning the effect of the electric light upon he quality of fruit Dr. Siemens cites ban ma palm which at two periods of it's exist 'nce, viz, during it's early growth and at the ime of the fruit development-wa placed n February and March of 1880 and 1881 un- Ter the night action of one of the electric ights, set behind glass at distance not two yards from the plant. The esult bunch of fruit weighing seventy i've pounds, the bananas being of unusual size nd pronounced by competent judges unsur- passed in flavor. Melons also remarkable CT size and aromatic flavor have been pro- luced under the influence of continuous light D the early spring of 1880 and 1881, and he
  ealized when the best condition of tempera- ( ure and of proximity to the electric light ave been thoroughly investigated.
 By his experiments Dr. Siemens is led to hink that the time is not far distant when l he electric light will be found valuable ad- { unct to the means at the disposal of the making him really independent l if climate and season and furnishing him with power of producing new varieties. Be- ] ore electro horticulture could be entertained s practical process it would be necessary, however, to. prove it's cost. and Dr. Siemens las also investigated this. He finds that where water power is available the electric ight can be produced at an extremely mod rate cost, and that engine power can be used or day work and it's night work for the pur- ,oses of electro horticulture will be second ny utilization of the establishment involv- ng little extra ex pense.
 
 EDITORIAL. NOTES. lt
 London Truth has found an English farn- 1