Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-09-30
Observation-Disclosures.


About a year and a half ago DIR.
Siemens communicated to the British
ROYAL Society paper on the Influence
of Electric Light Upon Vegetation" in
which he arrived at the conclusion that
electric light was capable of producing
upon plants effects Comparable TO those
of solar radiation; that chlorophyl was
produced by il, and that bloom and fruit
rich in aroma and color could be de-
veloped by its aid" Since that time DR..
Siemens has continued his experiments
in electro horticulture on larger scale,
and the results were made known to the
world in paper read at a meeting of
the mathematical and physical section Of
the British Association at its York
Jubilee
1t was found that the behavior of the
plants varied according to the manner in
which they were exposed to the electric
light. When exposed to the naked
electric light, not only the leaves but
the young stems of the plants soon
showed signs of destruction; but when
clear or colored glass was interposed so
as to exclude the highly refrangible
rays beyond the visible spectrum, while
allowing the luminous rays to pass
through, the plants hOurished. Under
the clear glass the largest amount of and
most vigorous growth was induced; the
yellow glass came next in order, but the
plants were inferior in color and thick
ness of stem; while the red and still more
the blue glass gave rise to lanky growth
and sickly leaf. The electric light was
kept on from p. N. till a. N. every
night except Sundays, but during the in
tervals diffused daylight and air were
not excluded Under the combined
action of electric light and daylight, DR..
Siemens thus succeeded in raising ripe
peas from the seed in three months and
half, ripe raspberries from the stalk in
two months and half, and strawberries
in two months. Wheat, barley and oats
only produced favorable results when
grown in the open air, and there exposed
to the electric light. Bananas, melons,
strawberries, grapes, ETC., raised under
these conditions not only ripened in
much shorter time, but were pronounced
by competent judges to be unsurpassed
in flavor, beside being of uncommon size.
DR.. Werner accordingly thinks that
the time is not far distant when the elec-
Viz Agub viii mdhC tue uOIllCulLuTlSL
Independent of climate and season and
furnish him with a power of producing
new varieties. AS to the cost of electro.
horticulture. 1t will be found extremely
moderate wherever water-power is avail
able. Where steam engine is neces-
sary the expenditure is somewhat great
er, but is yet largely neutralized by the
saving of fuel for heating the green
houses. The power needed at
night to light the dollhouse can
in the daytime be utilized
for such work as chaff-cutting, swede-
slicing, timber saving and water pump
ing Eventually electric transmission
of power may be applied also to tbresh-
ing, reaping and blowing; some advan-
tages of the electric motor over the porta-
bic steam engine being its greater light
ness and independence of water and fuel
1t should be added that some special ex-
periments made by DR.. Siemens and Dr.
Gilbert have set aside the doubt ex-
pressed by some botanists as to whether
plants matured under the influence of
the electric light would produce fruit
capable of reproduction.