Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-12-03
ELECTRICITY IN AGRICULTURE.

ELECTRICITY IN AGRICULTURE.
For some time it has been demon
strated that electricity applied to the
soil in which seeds are planted stimu-
lates their growth. At Amherst col
lege and Cornell University, expert
ments have been made in limited
way, testing the influence Of electri-
city on the growth Of fruits, flowers,
and vegetables.
The first real electric farm and gar
den in practical operation on large
scale is OIL the Jersey coast, about
fifty miles from New York City, and
the first consignment Of vegetables
raised by electricity is about to be
placed on sale in the New York mar
ket.
The owner of the farm is Thomas
FlemmiDg, who is a thorough gar
dener and electrician, having served
an apprenticeship in both lines.
A large stream Of water flows
through the farm, and this is used in
generating electricity. PIows, rakes,
harrows, moving machines, are all
worked by electric motors, and the
dropping Of the seed is performed by
planters that can be regulated to meet
the required distance
The cultivation of the plants after
they have come up IS done by small
plows Weeds are electrocuted. A
small electric wagons goes across the
field or between the rows of plants
and drugs a heavy wire netting upon
the ground. A powerful electric cur
rent is applied TO this, and every weed
or vegetable growth that il touches is
instantly killed, A lighter current
applied to the plants stimulates q
rapid growth and increases the size.
The effect on the flowers in the
greenhouse raised under the infu-
ences OF the electric light is very
curious. At first the light proved in
furious to many blossoms The color
of tulips was deeper and richer for q
few days, but they lost their brllliancy
when exposed to sunlight. The color
Of scarlet flowers turned TO grayish
white, and while all bloomed earlier
and produced larger blossoms, they
soon faded. By reducing the inten-
sity Of light and covering them with
opal glass globes, the injury of their
quality was lessened.
These flowers seem abnormal mon
strosities. They are double the ordi-
nary size and exceedingly brilliant
when kept in dark rooms during the
daytime and used only for evening
decoration.
The explanation of the increased
growth of plants under the influence
of electricity was thought to be the
extension Of the working season for
tbem-the continuous lighs prevent
ing them from resting at night, but it
is now generally conceded by scien-
lists that electricity helps the plants
to assimilate the nitrogen OF the at
mosphere and favors them in taking
up certain mineral salts of the earth
A point OF great Importance which
Mr.. Fleming expects to prove is that
the cost of producing fruits, flowers
and vegetables stimulated by clectri-
city will be less than when cultivated
in the ordinary way. He is prscti-
cal man as we'll as a theorist, and
utiizes power in every available way
IN order 10 produce the greatest re
suits with the least possible expense
The public will watch with interest
the progress Of Mr.. Flemming's work
1t may be found that we are inst al
the beginning Of new era in agri
culture and that the farmer is nc
longer to eat bis bread IN the sweat
of his brow, as he has done since tht
primal curse. Under the influence o.