Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-01-07
vtoErAel Es eY rLeorRIolrv.
The Interesting Discovery Made by n Hos
ION Truck Gurdener.

ton Truck Gardener.
Intense interest has been aroused
among Massachusetts, farmers and agri'
culturists by the recent publication
OF bulletin from the agricultural sta
tion OF Cornell university In which the
declaration is made that experiments
show that the electric light can be
prohtably used In the growing of plants
In the light OF this announcement the
publication Of Prof Warmers expert
mems will be looked forward 20 with
considerable interest Prof Warner has
conducted his Investigations with great
care and thoroughness, and few per
sons outside the college staff have been
aware that experiments were going on,
II is understood that important expert
mcnts have also been made at the col
lege with electric currents, with the
end in view OF verifying the experiments
OF foreign scientists which 60 to show
that the action Of electric currents upon
plants and vegetables seems 10 consist
in the active dissolution OF the organic
principles existing in the soil, which
are thereby brought within the reach
OF the roots, thus causing more rapid
growth in a shorter period
Independent Of the experiments at the
agricultural college only one private in
diyidual in the state is known TO have
experimental with the electric light
aud that is w. w Rawson, an extensive
market gardener in Arlington. Mr.
Rawson had his attention drawn to the
II l.,It ,,lu NJ
growth in a singular manner and by ac-
cident As far as he is concerned,
therefore, his experiments were original
with himself and were made long be-
fore he heard any attention was being
paid to the subject by foreign or Amer
lean scientists In the fall of 1889 it so
happened that an electric light was
erected by the town of Arlington for
street lighting purposes at n point in
close proximity TO ono side of his resi-
dence. On that side of his house were
a number OF flower beds which never
thrived until the rays of the electric
light began TO fall upon them. The
plants soon began 10 show an unusual
change. Finally they exhibited such
lively and increased growth that they
could not fail to attract attention,
and no reason could be assigned
for the phenomena but the effect of
the electric light Determined to push
the experiment further, Mr.. Rawson
introduced lights into his extensive hot
houses devoted TO the winter raising
mainly Of cucumbers and letHlce The
marked effect on his crop became at
once very manifest and the experiment
was seemingly so successful during tho
winter OF 1889 and 1890 that he fully
demonstrated to his own satisfaction
that he coul raise larger crop Of let
tuce or cucumbers OF better quality in
shorter time than he could before; in
fact, he convinced himself that the
electric light enabled him to increase
his profits twenty-five per cent over
what they had been before. Last win.
ter he was disappointed in obtaining
electric power and could not make
further Investigations Meanwhile, he
with scientists at home
and abroad and impaired to them the
results he had obtained. lie hopes this
winter TO resume his experiments on
large scale and is making preparations
to that end. He has experimental both
with arc lights and incandcscents and I
has found that the former are more ef- /
fcent - Boston journal.