The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-27
-ETHERIZING PLANTs.
The Results or Experiments with . New
Method OF HaateninE Development
From tho st. Lout, Globe Democrat.

From the st. Louis Globe Democrat.
COPENHAGEN, Feb. 5.-The Agricultural High
School here, which has some Of the most emf
nent chemists of the age working In i~tssinter-
ests, has made successful experiments in devel-
oping plants with marvellous rapidly by ether
izing them. Some time ago tlr. Johannsen,
an eminent botanist and experimental chemist,
read q paper before the school. in which he ex-
planned his methods OF etherizing plants to
hasten their maturity. and he illustrated his
text with pictures of the plants he had tested.
Immediately after hearing this lecture the di-
rectors OF the agricultural school made prepara-
lions to experiment with ether as n plant do
veloper, and the results Of these tests have just
been obtained as scientific data for future use.
The method, which promises to supersede
electroculture, is to expose plants to the ether
fumes under certain favorable conditions. Tho
theory is that the ether frees tho plants OF de-
,omposable matter. and stimulates them in their
growth 30 rapidly that they reach maturity
much earlier than by natural growth. The
plants are etherized In a very simple way.
Cylindrical glasses are used for this purpose
in tho experiment at the school. SO tho opera
tors can watch the progress Of the plants growth
without interrupting 1t. For larger plants,
shrubs. and small trees q peculiarly constructed
box is lined inside with tinfoil and oil painted
outside. 1t may be OF any desirable SIZE. a
small hole in the lid OF the DON Is maze Tor In
Producing the ether. and this Is closed with o
cork when everything 10 ready.
The box or glass cylinder is placed over tho
potted plant and tho ether then introduced.
From 500 to 600 cubic c%entimeters of ether are
introduced In a boy four feet high and long and
placed In a dollhouse and left there for twenty.
four TO ninety six hours.
Tho effect Of this treatment Is almost instan-
taneouB. The plant begins to awaken, and the
shoots expand and produce new foliage and
wood. Their previous inactivity is replaced by
Tulips. lilacs. carnations, lilies. and oil other
| plants thus treated develop suddenly and has
for tho market almost at the win Of the florist.
The etherizing of the plant costs from one cent
to two cents for each one. but in view. of tho ex-
traordinary, results obtained this Is hardly
yeloped quicker than BY natures usual method,
but the colors Of the flowers are intensified and
In this respect etherizing is much superior to
s sisSerS Seen Obtained sp IN the ssP past ten years sqsf IN sp'
plying atmospheric electricity to plants for
fastening their maturity. BY this method
turity in half the ordinary time required by ma
tnre. and, the size Of vegetables has been moro
creased so per cent. bv electroculture. So ro-
markable have the results been in this line that
some scientists have predicted, an early revolu:
ton In agriculture through the application OF
But there has always been one drawback to
the vegetables would be doubled in size by this
method OF stimulation, and their quality would
s sun o. ' They Would d Sioo@ much Ua pi earlier TU and
produce sometimes larger blossoms. with rich
colors. but they would quickly, fade. Thus car.
the 81 inap MGc,' Of an arc light. but when HAI re.
moved from 1t the flowers would fade within
OF violets. pinks. roses, and all other lowers.
The electricity In some way seemed to absorb
thus making electrocuiture Of little real value
to the florist.
stimulating the growth OF flowers. This prom
ises to be to the florist what electroculture Ia
proving to the general market gardener and
only brought out into strong relief by, etherizing.
but theys-are made moro durable than in tho
f TSis Is e aSS 10 t ~ fhS IfhbS at " tbS e siHw f %sshG fSe
plants of decomposable matter, and conse-
luently there is less rapid fading of the coloring
! have myself witnessed tho magic transfer.
nation Of plants by this process. Plants OF tho
from the greenhouse and PLACED under cyiindri.
cal glasses: They were in their resting period
b bn1 inc pn rGn after 1 the ether TbSnn w ioof fSrc eSa nn @nq
the glass covering a change was, gradually no.
ticeable. In. tho course OF twelve hours tho
looked thrifty and vigorous. Atthe end OF
forty'eight hours you could detect minute little
hours tiny new leaves had started and there
were'evident signs OF buds visible.
These discoyeriSs viii .ndIG'q,s % lead to
by the directors OF the agricultural station here
that florists can make any Of their plants bloom
at viii throughout tho year. Thus they can
make their lilaGs and tulips bloom in September
or October, or in time for tho Christmas Holt
days. In fact 1t will in time completely rovolu-
t~ionlze flower growing. We will not longer be
dependent upon the seasons FOR our flowers. BY
flowers that We may desire. and at q cost that II
within the reach OF all.
1t is tho comparative ease and cheapness ,of
the process that will make The discovery so
valuable. Any florist or household grower Of
dissolved at from IS to 20 agrees Centrigrade,
and as 1t 10 very infammablo care must be eIer.
clsed In not bringing any light near II. The
experiment could not be conducted In Q room
where gas or other light had TO DO used near tho
box or glass cylinder. 1t 10 better not TO have
ether are very volatile and they might escape