Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1898-03-31
ElE 1El'ITY ON FARMS.
7I7Nl oSi..C NATURES nlc-74
roRcs FOR TIE FARMERS BENEFIT

= 1.
'1''fr'tNing the Earth And stiu,ut.,,i,,.
" termination Of seeds by Sui,ie.tfnr
ih"in I" Electrical Tr.at,nent-t,r,,,
ing Vegetables by Electrical Process
Since electricity became. a science
Na1ons efforts have been made to d.
tefmlne what effect. If anv. j. ha,
upon the growth Of plants anal veee-
tables Many heated discussions have
attended the tests bv those who have
entertained oppo site theories. and il is
tneref"re particularly Interesting to
klo" tnat the EXPERIMENTS carried on
iof some tlile past At the Government
agricultural Station at Amherst
h'sss.. indicate that the use Of elec-
tflclfy bF the farmer Is a distinct
SliH0lHS = nature and dexerts alnarketi
1liiuehce upon the termination Of
set.lN ahd the growth Of farm produce.
ne \ = { i the scientists arril-
heht IN faNor OF the use Of electricity
on the farm = that roaming around
loose II the atmosphere there i a vast
1''nd OF electrical force. which, bv
means OF specially devised apparatlls
! can De attracted to earth and distribu
! ted through the ground III which the
1arlner has sown his seed. The anna
ratl's by means ot which the electrici-
Y i caught and harnessel for the ,lse
oi the farmer has been thorouahly
feSted'stt Amherst and has proved t.
he complete success. Briefly de-
scflbed, It consists OF number Of
copper spikes, which are elevated ut
ne spD OF a o0-toot pole. These spikes
gather the electric fluid and convey it
I" the loot Of the pole, where il is
caught by wires buried few feet be-
meath the ground and distributed over
as huch Of the earth as the farmer de-
SIfes. SO much electricity is there
wandering around loose in the at1nos-
l}heEe that one Of these poles can catch
ant distribute enough to electrlfv
several acres Of ground.
"lth TINS apparatus experiments
have been made which may be summa
rlle't as follows: After seeds had bean
Subjected TO the electric. treatment for
a period Of twenty-four hours. i vas
found that over 80 percent. more seed,
We're germinated by the aid OF elec-
trlrltF than IN lie quantity Of seeds !
make Il very complete test, the electric t
current was applied 10 seeds that were /.
allowed TO stay IN the ground for forty
eirht hours. II was found that 20
Der cent. more seeds had germlnated
in the electrified ground than IN the /
SOIL where tie seeds had been left 70
snrout undc. normal conditions. and
in scventy-two hours this percentage
had {;roppci 10 SIN, thus showing that
the use Of the current Coz the purpose
Of stimulating germlnatlon untef- all
the tests was a decided success.
Another interesting experiment was
made by planting in two sections OF
ground. the soil III both OF whlcn had
been carefully selected I" ensure II be
inc exactly alike seeds OF the follow
ing varieties: var rsnIps. lettuce. car
rot. tulnip ralish and onion. 10 one
section of g9oun,i a mild ciurent Of
electricity Wis applied Tne folio"
/ inc ,Lay the plants II the electric plot
! betan II appear. ~" turnlpa spt"'l'lhS
! first. The ruli.!itv Of the groAth q
those planted il tne electrically pre-
i1,arel ground was far III advance q
those planted IL the ordinary ground.
The second day plants hroke through
the surface IN both plots, those III he
electric garden showing considerably :
tthe more rapid Growth: the foliage
vae rank. ani when harvested was
nearly twice 2. Ai-h a~ tnat oi the
-e}et+rics ssIot The roots H1ele also