The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-11-05
NOT A cLAmeRciAL SUCCESS.
Vegetables Grown in Artificial Light Are
Failure.

Tie valuable scientific experiments in
forcing plant growth by means OF the
stimulating influence OF artificial light.
produced bythc electric light have faileJ
OF commercial realization. OndOuOiediy
increased plant growth resulted, but the
advantage even in the early maturing
of dollhouse vegetable crops did not
prove alluring to the practical truckster
III series OF experiments extending
over the last five years these results
have been duplicated by the u.e OF in
candeSccnt gas lights. Nothing could
more completely prove the effectiveness
OF the stimulation on the plant growths
OF lettuce, radiSheS. spinach. tomatoes,
sugar bectS and seeding cabbage than
these Investigations. In the experiments
upon lettuce alone II crops were under
observation, embracing in all 10000
plants. in which the effect OF the light
under different conditions was tried IN
all possible combinations. The lights
throughout the experiments were alter
ed IN positions from time 10 time in or
der TO overcome, or counterfeit, the pos
sible influence Of local temperatures and
differences of light 1t was found that
transplanting the young plants from
pots and using an artificial light only
during the period the plants occupied
the permanent greenhouse bench was tbs
most successful method Of forcing let
tucc on commercial scale In general
1t was found. as in the case of the use
OF arc lights, that the plants maturc1
earlier and bore heavier foliage or fruit
when exposed to the stimulating infu-
ence of the artificial light For instance
400 lettuce plants stimulated by artificial
light for 80 nights. weighed % Il
pounds, while 400 similar plants grown
under normal conditions weighed only
40 IL pounds, a gain of nearly 80 per
cent.
RadiShcS showed the influence of the
light in slightly increased size of the
roots and heavier top growth Spinach
proved the crop must susceptible to the
influence of the night light, and plants
even eight feet distant from the burner
showed plainly the effects. In the case
OF tomatoes the stimulation showed It
self in the earlier blossoming on the
plants, which took place from eight to
ten days earlier than under ordinary
NN'iuiNIOiiH. 1 nc weight OF the lnQi-
vidual fruits was larger. although i!s
total weight was not: that is to lay.
there were fewer but heavier fruits.
Sugar beet tops were larger and i,
is asserted there was observed an in
crease in the percentage of the sugar
content and in the purity of the bees
grown under the artificial gaslight.
1t is interesting TO note the periods OF
maximum growth in the plants under the
artificial light. and with the usual day
lighting. With the artificial light the
hours of greatest growth were from II
p m. to a. m. while under ordinar,
conditions this growth was attained dur
ing the intervals between 4 a. m. and II
a. ~
The stimulating influence ranges from
u to 10 feet. though its effects are per-
ceptible even at "a feet.
There appears to be no probability OF
immediate practical application of the
facts here disclosed. but the possihilit-
exists that with cheaper methods of pro.
ducing light, or the discovery of 4
method OF economically producing in
greater abundance those rays which are
responsible for the increased growth and
quickening of maturity. all hot-house
forcing will be accomplished by the aid
OF artificial night lighting.