Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-27

Ing only sunlight, those In the former
were found to be double the size of the
fected by the naked light. They became
deeper and richer in shade, but lost their
intensity after four or five days. Petunias
grew much taller and more slender and
blossomed earlier AMI more profssely
A plain globe or a piece of transparent
glass was found, however, to greatly i'm
prove the influences Of the arc light. Ex-
periments were tried with globed light
hung above the glass roof of the green
house, it being arranged that only one-half
OF the building might receive the light at
night. The plants in the lighted apart
ment Were found to be far superior to
those In the darkened one. A bed of one
hundred violet plants were set in the light
ed compartment. half of the bed being COW
cred each night with black enameled
cloth box provided with ventilation In
three weeks those receiving the electric
light every night began to bloom, while
those receiving only the sunlight did not
bear bud for five weeks.
Some Injurious Results.
With reference to the fact that the arc
light was found to have injurious results
Prof. Bailey finds that this effect ceases
at certain distances, varying with different
plants. Panes of glass have been placed in
front of certain plants, SO as to cover them
only half. After slight growth the parts
of the leaves receiving the uncovered light
will show a clear boundary line, outside
Of which the leaves are much healthier. The
lives of certain plants are so much hast
ened by bare electric lights that they can
not supply themselves fast enough with
food such as water, for instance. BY re-
moving them to greater distance a GER
tain point will be found where water may
be supplied fast enough to meet the re-
qurements Prof. Bailey believed that If
grown under electric lights for several gen.
erations plants will adapt themselves to
FASTENED growth. just as they have become
used to green house life in winter.
While Prof. Bailey is continuing his ex-
periments with the arc light. similar inves-
descent lamp at the West Virginia expert
ment station, under Prof. F. w. Rane.
Prof. Rane prefers the incandescsnt lamp
because 1t is cheaper, consumes less time.
with much the same results as noticed by
Prof. Bailey. He finds that the stronger
he makes the candle-power the more
marked are the increases in growth.
After learning Of these wonderful results
from experiments as yet in embryo, 1t
would seem that we may yet see the day
when there will be many harvestings on
farm each summer. The modern farmer
will erect lines of high poles throughout his
fields, supporting not only mechanism for
gathering the atmospheric electricity. but
also immense electric lights for supplying
sunshine by night. Who can say but that
forests will some day be made to grow up
from seeds in but few months. or that
the builders Of new houses may not grow
shade trees about their homes in that time?
Florists will then be able to manufacture
natural flowers in less time than il now
takes to plant them-all by Harvesting the
lightning of the heavens-for all atmos-
pheric electricity is lightning-and by
creating a substitute for the sun. And If
plants can thus be domesticated by cleo
tricity why can't the next step be its ap-
plication to domesticated animals? IT'S diff
cult to imagine that calf might be grown
to a mich COW, a colt to a strong horse
or a newly Matched chicken to laying
hen merely by placing them in incubators
for few hours. All this seems more prob
able now than did electroculture of plants
a generation ago.