The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-02
ELECTRICAL PLANT GROWING.

Professor L. H. Bailey of Cornell uni
versity has been asked to go to Fin
land to construct a series of expert
ments in electrical plant growing, in
conjunction with Professor Lemstrom,
of the University of Helsingfors. The
experiments to be carried on have moth
ing to do with the electric light or with
the running of electric light wires
through the soil for the purpose of
forcing the growth of plants by direct
current stimulation. They are to be
based on some pertinent observations
made by LemStrom on the effect OF the
aurora borealis on the plant growth of
the north.
1t is a well-known fact that the
plants of the north arrive at maturity
in a much shorter period OF time than
those plants which are grown further
south. 1t is necessary that these plants
should arrive at maturity very quickly.
inasmuch as the summer season at the
north is very brief, and it has always
been looked upon as a wise provision
of providence that the plants were ena-
bled to accomplish their business in life
in so short a space of time Professor
LemstroIn, however, casting aside the
prOVidential idea, states that the rapid
growth of plants in the far north is due
directly to the light of the aurora bo-
reals. Light is one of the necessary
natural agents in promoting plant
growth and the efficacy of continuing
the daylight by substituting in its place
electric light for the purpose of increas-
ing the number of growing hours" Of
plants, has already been proven. In adj
ditiOn to the fact that the light of the
aurora might tend to increase the num-
Der of growing hours of the plants of
the north, Lemstrom contends that
they are also stimulated by the pres
ence of the large amount of atmospher-
ic electricity, TO which, as 1t is contend
ed, the presence of the aurora is
due.
Lemstrom, in furtherance of his
ideas, has been carrying on a series of
experiments in which plants have been
subjected to atmospheric electricity.
But these experiments, while in a mea-
sure thorough, have not been carried
out on a sufficiently extended scale to
warrant any large assumptions being
made in the matter. 1t is Lemstrom's
ieda that, in conjunction with Professor
Bailey, some very important work can
be carried on, and it is for this purpose
that Professor Bailey is making ready
10 proceed to Finland.
HOW THE FARM WILL BE AR
RANGED.
If the plans of the two experimenters
are carried out in the manner which is
now contemplated, the results will be
an electric farm of a decidedly pictur-
esque character. 1t is proposed TO erect
a, line of posts around this farm or field
in which the experiments are to be car
ried out. From post to post, through
the air. above the ground, wires Will be
stretched and, at convenient distances
along these wires, small knobs or points
will project. A static current, such as
produced by the Holtz machine, will be
sent over the wires, and viii be allowed
to jump across the open space between
the wires from one point or knob TO
another. A constant flow of electricity
through the air Will thus be accom-
plished. and the surrounding atmos-
phere will be, in a measure, saturated
with the current. AT least, this is the
idea of the eXperimenters; certainly at
night. the scene should be very pictur-
esque. The tiny points of flame jump
ing from wire to wire from knob to
knob. in a background of darkness,
ought to create a picture such as might
be thought to exist only in the tabled
farms of fairyland. Professor Bailey, in
sepaking of the scheme, says:
"Our contemplated experiments point
to the application of atmospheric cleo
lAISily ~ TIC SiO"li-5 VI p4slltS. Lem
strom and myself have devised a
scheme by which we are to work in
unison-sOme work to be carried on in
Finland and some to be carried on in
America. He has recently suggested
that l should so to Finland in order to
look over his experiments and to be
better able to undertake them here.
Lemstrom was first led to consider this
whole subject by observing the infu-
ence of the aurora on the atmosphere
and plant growing, and thought that
the Identification of the atmosphere
had gerat deaf to do with the growth
in the Arctic region. Tie went to Spitz-
enbergen for the purpose of investigat-
ing the electrical phenomena and the
neteorology of plant growing.
Il have recently pointed out to the
members Of the Massachusetts horticul-