Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-23
ELECTRICAL ExrERrMENrs
Interesting Investigations Being Made By the
Agricultural Departments


INFLUENCE OF ELECTRICITY rPoN TEE COLOR
AND PkoDccrIvENEss OF FLowKRs-cuRISo
TOBACCO BIT MANS OF KLEcrRIcAL ASPLi-
ANcEs-wHAr WILL BE sKEN AT rHE COMING
WORLDS FAIR
ELEcTRICITYI Is ABOUT TO FIND ANEW
- employment in horticulture. Spring veg
etables are already being forced by its aid for
market There is no doubt that roses and other
flowers can be made to bloom more plentifully
and more probably with its assistance. In
short the discovery affords promise Of posi-
bilities not yet estimated.
The Department Of Agriculture has been ex-
pefimenting in this direction for some time
past 1t has been found that lettuce is particu-
larry susceptible TO the influence Of the electric
hsht, by means OF which il can be grown FOR
market In two-thirds the usual length Of time.
other vegetables respond likewise in varying
degrees. But everything depends upon the
proper regulating Of the light and how to do
TINS can only be learned by careful study of the
result produced under all sorts of conditions.
Inc effect OF the electricity being to hasten ma
thrifty, too much of il causes lettuce TO run to
seed before the edible leaves are formed.
III must not be imagined that electricity Is
employed Tor such purposes as a substitute for
sunnSht IL IL merely used in n supplementary
fashion. The green house that has the sun in
the daytime is illuminated at night with arc
nShts, toward which the plants incline their
leaves and flowers, accepting quite innocently
These artificial counterfeits of the orb of tiaV
III was supposed hitherto that vegetables re-
quired intervals OF darkness for their health
and development, just as animals need sleep.
put 1t has been shown that. supplied with
electric rays they will go on growing thriftily
between sunset and daybreak. Staying up all
night seems to do them no harm 50 long as the
dissipation is properly regulated.
OPAL GLOBES EMPLOYED.
On the same principle that beer is selected
by the prudent as a less demoraiizing beverage
than whisky the electric gardener employs
opal globes to diminish the intensity of the
light When II is left baro and permitted 60
shed its unfiltered rays upon the plants the
latter grow pale, run up quickly in sickly
stalks and soon die. II remains to be dis
covered exactly how much electricity is beno-
ficial and during precisely what period CT the
developments OF the vegetables 1t ought to be
applied.
The influence Of electricity upon the color
and productiveness Of flowers has been shown
to be extraordinary. Tulips exposed to its
light have deeper and richer tints, towering
more freely and developing longer stems and
bigger leaves. Fuschias bloom earlier under
like conditions. Petunias also bloom earlier
and more .profusely, growing taller and more
slender. 1t Is the same way with many other
flowers. In fact, there is every reason for be-
hevinS that the electric light will be very
prohtably used in future an adjunct to fore
ing establishments for both flowers and garden
vegetables. Already one market gardener in
New Jersey 10 employing IL with a success
which he reports as marvellous.
Another surprising investigation which the
Department OF Agriculture is conducting has
to do with tobacco.
CURING TOBACCO.
An important part Of the curing Of tobacco
is its fermentation, which occurs during the
process known as ''bulking." The leaves are
packed closely together in large piles, and
while the mass heats, the tobacco being said TO
sweat, and after the aromatic compounds
which contribute to its taste and odor are
formed. These phenomena of fermentation
are caused by bac,eria.
Now, each sort of tobacco has its own kind of
bacteria, which give it aroma and flavor incl
dentally to feeding upon il. Here comes in a
wonderful discovery, for il has been ascer-
tanned by experiment that poor tobacco when
inoculated with the bacteria naturally belonging
to fine tobacco obtains the taste and quality of
the latter. Thus by simple operation it is
easy to transform inferior leaves into first-cass
material for cigars which the consumer NAV
readily be led to believe are from the vuelta
Abajo.
Thus far the matter has not passed beyond
the experimental stage. The trials we're per-
formed by propagatnG colonies of bacteria be-
longing to nrst-qualIty tobacco in beef tea and
then sprinkling the latter upon inferior leaves
After these leaves had been packed together
ana permitted TO ferment they were found to
have all the bouquet and other desirable quali-
ties OF the fine brand. So complete were the
results that expert judges were unable to tell
the difference. They can undoubtedly be Sc
cured on a large scale at a small cost. perhaps
by merely spraying the poor tobacco with a
decoction OF a superior quality. transferring by
this means the vegetable organisms whose as
sistance is desired. The notion that the differ
ence between a Richmond stogy and an i'm
ported Havana cigar is chiefly one of species IN
microbes Is certainly calculated TO be OF inter
est to smokers.
THE WORLDS FAIR EXHIBIT.
A relief model Of Death valley twenty-five
feet in length is to be an interesting feature of
the exhibit of the Department OF Agriculture
at the worlds fair. Together with il will be
shown specimens of all the strange creatures
which the government expedition collected
there recently, such as horned toads scorpions
and snakes. There will also be a display of the
and stuffed.
Besides display of mounted bugs the ento-
mologist division will show medals of growing
economic plants of all sorts, mostly in pots
ana resembling real ones with amazing ac-
curacy of Imitation. Of these many have
been already completed. Each plant is repre-
sented as attacked by its most destructive In
sect parasite part of it being In a healthy condi-
tion, while another portion is in process of
being gobbled up. For example, on a tomato
plant is crawling huge green caterpillar,
known as the tomato worm" On n norton
of potato plant potato bugs are getting in
their work, aud clover. different kinds of vines
and other growths are similarly displayed, as
sailed by their respective enemies. An ear of
corn Is being eaten bv a boil worm which is
the same foe that attacks the cotton so fatally
And, by the way. it has been recently discoy-
cred that cotton can be saved from this depre-
dator by planting corn among it, because the
boil worm prefers corn to cotton and Will for
sake the latter for the former.
METEOROLOGICAL LABORATORY
The bureau of animal industry will exhibit a
complete meteorological laboratory in full
operation, showing how the bacteria which
produce various diseases in beasts are propa-
gated and experimental with. 1t will also
make an interesting display of animal para
Sites from the trichina to the tapeworrn. Like
wise this division will have on view a model
barn and model poultry house, constructed by
putting together suggestions which have been
solicited from farmers all over the country
Agents of the department have been engaged
in collecting samples of corn, wheat and other
grains from state and county fairs in all parts
of the United States, selecting those which have
taken premiums the best. Samples of wheat
have been secured from Peace river as far north