Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-01
ELECTRICITY FoR CROPS.
The Eject of the Current on
Growth.

hTDNAns
1t has long be N known that the cleo
trIcity in the atmosphere plays an i'm
portant part In the stimulation OF yege-
table growth. but hitherto no practical
use has been made Of this knowledge.
says the New York World.
The results recently obtained by some
French scientists who have been expert
menting with the effect OF electricity On
plants Indicate that a most valuable all
TO agriculture has been discovered. y
plant deprived OF atmospheric electricity
by covering IL with a network OF fine
steel wires soon withers away and dies;
when artihcially stimulated by an cleo
trio current, II blooms with far more
vigor than in q normal condition.
With these data 10 work upon, the eN-
perimenters moistened seeds with water.
and then subjected them TO the Influence
OF an Electric current. The seeds thus
treated grew with far more yigor and
came 10 maturity sooner than those not
so treated. They even succeeded In
making date-stones germinate. which Is
very unusual thlns 20 happ'n IN France
Peas. beans. and maize grow with as
tonishing swiftness when treated with
the powerful current OF a RuhmkOrn coil.
and the yield was greater than ordinary.
Experiments with batteries were not 30
successful when the current was passed
through the earth. because Of the diner
ence In the resistance Of the soil Ia Varl-
ous places 10 the passage OF the current.
The resulting crop was uneven in char
acter, according a. one particular sec
lion received more or lrss Of the electric
current. with the powerful electrical ma
chimes much more satisfactory results
were obtained Strawberries In particular
were ripenad In a remarkably short time.
Electrical machines are far too expen-
sive however for a farmer 20 use ana
though all right in theory, they are 100
costly in practice.
The new invention Is called the geo
magnetifere and consists Of an ordinary
pole 10 or ~ feet high, surmounted with
a cheval de frise OF copper spikes, de-
signed to act as a collector OF atnos-
pharlc electricity. This collector Is insu-
lated from the pole by a porcelain Knob
and connects with a copper wire talso
insulated from the pole). which transmits
the current 10 q network Of wires which
are laid under the soil at a depth OF
about six feet. These wires are made
Of galvanized iron, and their cost Is not
large.
By the use Of this apparatus the pro-
ductlOn on given area has been IN
creased % per cent. Inc grapes iiohi
vineyards in which the geomagnetifere IS
used are richer In sugar and alcohol than
ordinary grapes Flowers have n stronger
perfume also, when stimulated In THIS
manner.
The exact chemical action which the
current has upon fruits and vegetables
cannot be determined. II H. only certain
that such action takes place. Some hold
that Il acts by aiding the plants TO as
simulate the azote Of the atmosphere.
while others think that It favors the as
similation Of certain mineral salts in the
soil.
The experiment can be tried on any
lawn or hower-bed, so long as the pole
is away from the house. If too close 1t
acts as a lightning conductor. but without
giving any protection.
Ii is estimated that geomagnetifere
6O feet high will enrich the soil to the
same degree as ten times its cost In ma
nure. At the present time a successful
farmer has 10 be something OF chemist
and it now seems as though he will have
70 be an electrician. too.