Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-07-13
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.
VARIOUS MAT'rERS OF IHTEREST
TO CURIOUS MINDS.
The Wonderful Progress Made in
the Cultivation of Plants by Elec-
tricity-FOJder From Trees-An-
other Typc-COmposing Machine.

Some most valuable ad liions to the
data available in regard to the new
science Of electroculture, or the cult
WALTON Of plants by electricity, have
been made by Brother loaulin, as the
results of a series of experiments con-
Quoted scientifically. These expert
ments have extended over the last two
years. Finding that electricity eXcrtcd
a favorable influence On vegetable life,
Brother Paulin devised what he called
4 "geomagnctifere, for the purpose OF
attracting what electricity is found
near the earth in consequence Of me
neurological phenomena. such as slorlas,
rains. wind, etc, and distributing 1t IN
the ground in the vicinity OF the roots
Of PLANTS. The scom lgnetifere is res
nous pole, ranging in height from ~
to 60 feet, which is planted IN the
ground, and Which supports, by means
Of porcelain insulators, galvanized
iron rod that terminates in five copper
points; these points project prominent
ly from its top. This collecting brush
is connected by means of the rod With
a system of wires 6 feet inches apart.
ground which it is proposed 10 intiu-
ence. The area depends upon the
height Of the pole. An area of, say,
1858 square yards. for example, is
allowed pole 10 feet , inches high.
The wires are buried to a depth of
6 to IS inches in the ground. and will
last for many years, in fact until they
are destroyed by rust The first eX-
pertinent made by Brother Paulin was
conducted in the spring of 1881, in
potato field belonging to farmer in
the suburbs of MonthriSOn, France. n
report was published in the following
July which drew special attention to
the mlrkad irrcgula"ity in The vcgcta-
ton in the field which las been brought
under the influence OF the current. 1t
said I'm an exact circle in which the
electric conductors are buried the pO-
tato plants have Il growth double that
in the rest of the field. And this is true
without exception. There is no gap
in tine groups of plants, forming a Cir
Gle almost as exact rs if it had been
drawn by Il compass" The Agricultur-
III Society Of MontbrisOn regarded the
re suits attained Of such Importance as
to entitlc Brother Paulin to special
modal. Tho report of the committee
she VS. that the operations OF the geo
magnctifere extended over an area Of
60 feet ; inches in radius. In this
part of the field the stems of the po-
tato plants attained an extraordinary
size and development, and prtstlved
at the same Il freshness that Contlasted
very favorably with those in ncigEbor-
ing parts of the field. The stems were
measured and were found to leach
height of 57S7 inches and 1871 900
inch in diameter. Four patches OF
ground Which represented the average
vegetation in both parts of the field
We're selected, two of which were tray
ersed by wires. while the other two
were OF subjected to the influence Of
electricity. The thirty-two meters in
the former area yielded 10S pounds
of potatoes, Willie the same area Of the
uninflucnced portion Of the field pro-
duccd Ia pounds The production per
hectare (2.40 acres, in the first case
would be 81 800 pounds. and in the sec
end II, pounds. This result. at
tanned without any special fertiliZinG
and With common variety Of potatoes
equals the best crops obtain I'd at large
expense with chemical fertilizers.