La Junta tribune., 1898-02-12
USE OF ELECTRICITY. !.
IT'S EFFECT ON PLANT LIFE
eEINo STUDIED IN COLLEGE. /,
carreut sent rhrsagh soii-is IL Proved
That Il Promotes the speed OF
Growth and vsgor Of Many Frodsets
of the Field.

Tho relation of electricity to life IL
puzzle that has interested many
minds. In the subtle nature of that
force which used to be known as the
electric "fiuid" there is unquestionably
something which suggests the yet sub
tier life principle. Though quacks
abuse the analogy to cheat the sick.
their frauds do not make the truth any
less true. And the truth Is that life
Ia force. and electricity is force. and
they must be In some way related. 1t
IN hard to study the Amer effect OF elec-
tricity upon animal life. Animals may
be killed by the fluid" or in somn
cases seemingly helped by 1t. but the
result of any long series of experi-
ments Is spoiled by the dificulty OF
measuring any change. 1t is possible
that the way to approach this subject
Is not SO direct as some would make
1t, but must start with plant life. and
SO work up to man. The life of a plant
is not altogether different from that
of an animal, but 1t Is simple. and the
results Of experiments upon 1t can be
much more easily measured. 1t II pos
sible that the experiments in electrical
farming which are being made at the
Massachusetts, Agricultural College at
Amhurst may be the beginning OF dis
coveries that will not stop with plants.
The workers there. under the direction
OF Henry H. Goodell. LII. D., are pro-
ceeding in a perfectly scientific man
ner, fully measuring every step before
they take the next one. Thus far they
have proved that certain kinds OF cleo
tric currents applied In accurately
measured amounts produce definitely
measurable effects on plant life. Elec-
tricity properly applied stimulates the
growth OF plant. The experiments OF
the past year upon white mustard, red
clover, barley and other products OF the
field prove that rightly regulated
electric current increases growth from
13 to 40 per cent. The subject has been
studied for $50 years. but never at any
other time and place has the work been
so accurately scientific or nearly so
conclusive. The method Is to take 200
seeds of the same kind and separate
them into eight groups Of twenty-five
seeds each. These groups are placed
In exactly similar terminating pans,
and every condition to which they are
exposed is rigidly equal. except that
some are treated with electricity while
others are not. The results prove the
efficacy Of electricity in promoting the
speed of growth and the vigor OF the
plant. They are so definite as to be
OF use to the farmer. and already on
many extensive farms the knowledge
gained at the Massachusetts, College is
being put to practical use. The cur
rent is passed through the soil In
which the plants grow and the meth
DDS are such that large areas may be
treated without excessive expense. No
scientist can doubt that the time Ia
near at hand when electric energy can
be developed incomparably more
cheaply than power Of any kind has
ever been had by artificial means. It
will be only a little more expensive
than sunlight; and in that day the
farm lands of the earth. contracting as
the population Increases. will yet by
their marvellous productivity supply
abundant food to the race.