The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-13

red house being second in this respect The
strawberries grown under colored lights were
watery and insiptd.
For several reasons the experiments made
In hothouses were not wholly satisfactory
ard so q plan was devised for growing plaDfs
under the color bands Of a prism. For this
purpose an enormous prism OF glass was
constructed, and was filled with turpentine
which has a high power TO refract light
Lhen an electric light was thrown through
the prism with great magnifying lens IN
terposed between IL and the plants under
observation. In this manner a series OF light
bands OF different colors was thrown upon
an area or specially prepared soil and the
best possible opportunity was offered to study
the Development OF vegetai specimens planted
In the strips thus marked out. It Is cas- "
realized that a profile photograph Of them
at the end Of sixty days, say. would give
a most interesting notion of their develop
ment comparatively considered under the
lights Of different colors.
Plants owe their colors chiefly to light
For example the green color of leaves
aue 10 the presence OF a substance called
ehiorophyll, can be produced only in the
llght II Is the same way with the brilliant
hues of flowers. NJ Flammarion has
found that lilacs under red green or blue
glass become absolutely white. Furthermore
he has ascertained that by very simple
means II is possible to obtain on one stem
lilac flowers OF all shades from white to vio-
let-red. This is accomplished by putting
ittle hoods over the pannicies during diff
reTent periods. More remarkable still are the
notifications in the form. size and color OF
leaves obtained by the use of light OF DIFF
ferent cOlors. Purple leaves, for Instance
turn to green under red glass. Similar re-
suits are produced with fruit such as peaches
apples and cherries. On the other hand car
rots. beets, redshes and potatoes are not
affected. being under ground.
Special experiments were made with yisg
OF ascertaining the effect OF electric light
upon plants. 1t appears that such light OK
erts much the same influence upon them
as sunlight does, only In a smaller degree.
Indeed, u is quite practicable to grow plants
entirely by electricity. and the great Siemens
has already pred scted that the thing will be
done before long, using the term electro
horticulture" 70 designate this new applica-
ton OF electric energy. He anticipates that
in the future. as he expresses g. ''the horti-
culturist VIII have tho means for producing
high quality OF fruit at all seasons OF the
year Of course plants can be forced to keep
on growing by night as well as by DAY. BIZ
supplying electric light when the sun is
absent.
The growing OF plants at a faster rate
than nature can grow them Is assuredly quite
a wonderful achievement, rejecting much
credit upon human ingenuity. Not least in
teresting OF the applications OF the mysterious
fluid for this purpose is the Identification
OF seeds. which by having a current passed
through them FOR a few hours before being
plated. are induced to terminate much more
quickly. Furthermore, the development of
the plants themselves is fastened by applying
electricity directly 10 their roots through
wires laid under ground. Rene Bache.