The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-11-08

NO NEED OF THE sun
Agricultural Department Grows
Plants by Ele ctricity.
startling Effects of Artificial light at ths
Experiment Station-Results of Prof.
Baiiey's Arc Light and Prof.
Rane's Iacandescent Lamp.

Probably the most interesting of the
many miracles which scientific men are
learning to perform by ala of electricity
is the artificial growth of plants, tech
nically known as electroculture. This
is as yet a new science and little has
been told the public concerning it In
teresting experiments in these lines
are now being carried on at several OF
the experimental stations of the de-
partment of agriculture.
The agricultural experiment stations
are testing several different systems Of
electroculture. One Of these is the di-
rect application Of electricity, fur
nished by a dynamo, to the plant it
self and to the soil in which it grows.
Another is the distribution of etnos-
pheric electricity among plants by a
similar method Still other tests are
being made with beth arc and mean
descent electric lights for supplying
sunlight, SO to speak, at night. The
first mentioned experiments are being
carried on by Prof c. d. Warner, of
the experiment station at Amherst,
Mass Prof. Warner has prepared two
plots Of ground, side b. side, each six
by twenty feet long. To compare
plants grown by electric aid with
those raised according to tho natural
method one of the experiment gardens
is furnished with electricity and the
other is without it. The soil is of
rich loan, and that of the electric
garden is surrounded with q timber
frame, on which are arranged nu-
mercus porcelain irsulators, a few
inches apart, holding a continuous, I'M
covered copper wire. This copper wire
crosses the garden as many times as
there are insulators on either side.
The whole framework thus fitted
looks like the string frame of a large
piano.
The wires are covered with earth to
the depth of two inches, and in both
gardens various vegetables have been
planted from time to time. These
plants are so arranged that the rows
in the electric gardens are continual
tons of those of the non-electric, in
order that the contrast of development
might be more easily noted. The
wires are fed from a small building
containing the necessary machinery.
After applying currents of various
strengths 1t was found that a certain
flow OF electricity through the cleo
trio garden produced strange results.
Many varieties OF seeds sprouted much
more rapidly and many plants bios
somed much earlier than in the
other. Roots of certain vegetables and
the tops of others were found to be
greatly enlarged under the process.
In fact, all plants were found to be
stimulated by a current of certain
strength. The physiological effect of
electricity upon plants. although not
yet definitely understood, is probably
similar to that experienced by tho
human anatomy or by the animal It's
sues. Electricity Is applied to par
alytics because it stimulates the
nerves and muscles, just as exercise
does A strong current is used to re-
move superhuous hair, while, accord
ing to later reports. milder current
Will produce hair on bald heads In
the same way an electric current too
strong viii destroy plant life, while a
ailder one enhances its growth. There
is also the theory that the electricity
produces chemical effect upon the
soil or surrounding atmosphere, rather
than direct effect upon the plants.
At the Ithaca On. " experiment sta
ton Prof. Bailey, by aid of electric
lights burned all night In greenhouses,
makes plant life work overtime
that is, he forces plants to do both day
work and night work without a mo-
nent of sleep" Sunlight, as well as
atmosphere and water, is necessary for |
1 plants development. The electric |
light resembles sunlight in its compo- |
'ition more than does any other artifi-
,ial hight It is the common theory |
hat plants grow mostly at night,
making use of the air, water. sunlight |
Ind other materials which they have
'eceived during the day, when the sun
S shining. 1t is generally believed,
therefore,, that they need rest. just a.
animals need rest for the build
ng up of the tissues worn out during
he day. Prof. Bailey, however, does
lot believe that plants need rest in the
anne sense that animals do.
After learning of these wonderful re-
Nlts from experiments as yet in en-
'ryo 1t would seem that we may vet
zee the day when there will be many
On a farm each summer.
The modern farmer viii erect lines of
ugh poles throughout his fields. sup
'orting not only mechanisns for gath
ring the atmospheric electricity, but
lso immenoe electric lights for sup
lying sunshine by night. Who can
ay but that forests will some day
'e made to grow up from seeds in but
few months, or that the builders of
lew houses may not grow shade trees
bout their homes in that time?
BUFFALO FISH.