The morning call., 1891-05-10
LNNOCENTS ABROAD.
Nevada City Scientists Study Elec-
trical Tree Growing.

Readers of THE CALL win remember that
this paper recently chroniced the interest
ing experiments Of Major Frank McLaugh-
lin of 0rOville in applying electricity to
fruit trees to force the rapid maturity of
fruit. The reports have made profound
impression in agricultural circles, and among
those most impressed, says the Marysville
Democrat, was prominent mine owner and
speculator, residing above Nevada City, Ne
vada County, who prides himself on being a
scientist, but is somewhat nearsighted and
wears lOng-Tange eye glasses. He came to
Nevada City Friday and Induced two other
gentlemen to Join him, one of them a meT-
chant and the other banker, and they
started for OrOvile, driving good team.
At Smartsville they took in mining eX-
pert to make the load balance evenly, and
after rest OF a couple OF hours
in this city drove on and arrived at
OToYille a little after dark. Saturday
some Of the citizens took the party over 10
ThermalitO, Palermo and other points OF
interest, ana they had an enjoyable time.
When the matter Of the application OF cleo
tricity to fruit trees was mentioned, they
were assured tn at the effect OF the applca-
ton could be much better seen and under
stood al night when quite dark, in fact, one
citizen said that If II was real dark, such as
is produced by fog, the electricity could
be made to sparkle at the extreme ends Of
the limbs. OF course, the citizens of OrO-
vile are Of progressive AID entertaining
nature, and when prominent strangers Visit
them they naturally show them the sights,
and while waiting for the moon to retire
Saturday evening the visitors became jOvlal
and quite happy. In the meantime some
of the active spirits OF the town fixed
up a little job, which in the outcome worked
a little 100 well. They picked out the resi-
Of of lot mn "a IN
lot of growing fruit trees, as place to show
the effect Of electricity on the growing fruit.
Some wire was attached TO the trees and
several Chinese bombs were planted near
the first experiment tree. Each one had
fuse so arranged that when fire was applied
they would explode one after the other.
Shortly after midnight, when the good peO-
pie were a bed and quietly slumbering, tie
party Of scientists started from the Union
Hotel and were soon at the experiment
grounds, and, after considerable explana-
ton as to how the shock should affect the
fruit, and that Major Mclaughlin had now
gone East to perfect patent on the lnVen-
ton, the work commenced. The mining
man from Nevada County, who is sUme-
thing of a stOry-telleT, had Just fin
ished telling of the royal time had
at the last meeting OF the WoOdpecker
Club, when one OF the Oroyllle scientists
touched the warm end OF 4 lighted cigar to
the fuse which was just back of the story
teller. They were directed to look up into
the tree and observe the effect, which they
did just as the first bomb exploded, and it
was followed in quick succession by four
more. BY the time the second explosion
took .lace the owner of the property came
out with gun, and, Of course, the scientists
left the scene. and they did not retire in
good order, as may be readily understood.
The noise was terrific, and the people
rushed in the direction of the explosion.
The officers saw tN 0 men running down the
street away from the noise, and they were
placed under arrest, and it proved to be the
banker and merchant from Nevada City.
OF course the matter was SmO0thed over
and hushed up. and the scientists hItched
up their team aud drove TO MarysYilie.
Each one OF them was broke and had to
draw money while here obtaining it from
the First National Bank