Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-30

accelerated. He took two lots of twelve
oro,,ns containing 1l2 seeds each, soaked
tber1 In water until thoroughly MOST
ened. and while wet placed them III
glass cylinders open at either end. COP
nor discs which were connected with the
po,es of an induction coil were presSeu
against the seeds ana current passed.
through them Tor one or TWO illlu'c9'
After this. the seeds were sown, the tenn
perature being kept at 20 TO % degree.
The result was an increase OF WI
IN the seeds to which eleet'iC"S
applied over the seeds NOT ,su pJeSNSGu -
the experiment, OF 80 per cent .,.o.o
The objects OF this experiment VIZ
,hroefold' First to determine whether
the seed germ responded in any way
when subjected TO electrical inhuehcc'
second. should there be any visible ac-
tion 10 determine whether IL was blJu-
r,ous or beneficial. Third, 10 de'ei4ii'ho
the effects of different strengths OF cur
rent. These experiments were carried
on from a scientific standpoint. lalNer
than from any practical applcauoh "
which they might be put. Inc more SUI
prlsing. then. IS the TACT that IL We
fo',rd that with apparatus within the
roaoh Of almost every grower. the use
of electricity may prove Of great ser lso
,n Inc termination Of small SEEDS, Whlcn,
urdsr ordinary conditions start very
slowly. ,s
In the selection Of terminating pans
Cor tbie work. two chief points "eIc
taken into consideration. FIRST thaI o,no
Yormal or untreated seeds shou'u no.
ovactlv the same environment a. w.
treated. aside from the conditions pio '.s,,,
about by the application OF eiec-IIe,'S
second that the conditions ior eOi. ,,',o-
t,on should be as favorable as posa ro,or
mat Is. that there should De ule piO' 80
amount Of heat. air, ara niols'"'e
Dive the best possible cohul'oHS'
The form OF apparatus USED IN ny" ,,o
experiments which seemed 10 I'm. ~ .,,c
,,,atos--an outer one of porcelain "p0u'
pi"'o =; diameter. and an inner OF
-, inches in diameter Wlihih ui'
tnror Mate filter paper is placeu' upO-
Itch the seeds are sown. In the QUIZ
,,ote a constant supply OF W".1i
-, which gradually passed lhious
- ,,,ate OF porous clay. Keeping eh'
c1,o, nanor within constantly moist In'
seeds were sOwn upon the hl'er p"p.a
yhich was divided into eight equ"i pa pa 20
seven of these were used Tor 'ne 10
ed seeds, while the eighth was Ao' -"
normal, or untreated seed'
second piece of moist filter pape
was nlaced over the seeds, resting uPo'
them. and touching at various po'.i'
,he paper beneath. In TINS hanhel u.
covering was kept moist by apsoip ''0'
IL order TO insure perfect DARKNESS
az -, mack cardboard was place
nvar tho pan in such Il manner as
shut ont the light. but not 10 prevent
80 circulation of air. The moist hito
ronor which constituted the GOVERN
- the seeds. offered but little opstruc
ton TO GROWTH - o.,,,o,,t
u,cra of two kinds-namely, four le
ianche cells arranged in series sNih
an electro-motiVc force OF from 10
volts. and two No. Samson cells GlFlil
~ electro-rnotive force of eS-l0O Volt
Ia Ioro neriods OF treatment been dc
yires gravity cells would have answere
M putpose much better. But as IN
current was never used for more ina
Ave minutes at a time, and then u
battery allowed period or rest, u
a,fncuity was experienced from It's rui
Ming down. and comparatively constai
strength of current could be obtained.
The great advantage gained In usin
the sal-ammoniac battery Is the ea'
with which It may be set up and II
nevyed when exhausted. In order that
large variation in electro-mouve ior'
could be obtained. en- induction coil WI
employed that was a form or the ituhH
forff apparatus. In some or the eNper
ments hourly treatment was desire
This was accomplished by passing II
wires from the battery TO an electr
clock. and thence to an Induction mi
chine. Each hour the clock formed
connection. completing the circuit, al
current was passed Through Tor
period of about thirty seconds.
The result OF the experiments show
that electricity excrts an appreciate
nuenco upon the termination OF SEED
that tho application OF certain strengt
of current TO seeds for short periods
time accelerates tho processes OF germ
nation. Those lots of seeds receiNi
electrical stimulation gave "A higher p'
csn;age Of germination than the norm
The range IN the strength of cure
which accelerates termination Is excee
Sngiy limited. Seeds subjected TO but o
application OF electricity show the en'
only for "A few hours. Electricity. WI
applied hourly to terminating seeds
growing plants. does not loss its enc