The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-30
FARMING BY ELECTRICITY
NOVEL EXPERIMENTS ARE BEING
CONDUCTED IN GERMANY.
Light Has Stimulative Effect ON
Growth of Agricultural Products
Current Used to Advantage.

Correspondence of the indianapolis Journal.
BERLIN, Aug. s0.-The advent of the
electrical pillow, which is now becoming an
extensive and important factor in agricul-
ture, is likely TO lead to the further appli-
cation of electricity on the farm and gar
den.
The tests already made will serve to
elevate agriculture to a still more scen-
tifc basis Experiments have been made
during the past three months which will
fully demonstrate some hitherto merely
tentative positions Here, where extensive
cultivation is rapidly becoming necessity,
these experiments have been made on a
larger scale probably than elsewhere.
A forthcoming report of the German
Department of Agriculture will give some
very important facts, both in regard to
experiments and data collected in relation
thereto.
This report will show that some very
delicate distinctions must be used to make
the application of electricity to both horti-
cultural and agricultural process success
full.
A synopsis of this forthcoming report is
as follows: One class of effect is that pro-
duced upon vegetation by the light rays, an
entirely different application-that of the
current itself-acting chemically upon the
roots of growing vegetation, which is capa-
bic of accomplishing most striking results.
INFLUENCE OF LIGHT.
Indirect effects particularly those at
tributable TO the light of the electric
arc, long since demonstrated by Herve,
Mangon and Prillieux. showed the influence
of the electric light, not only in the early
perfection of fruits and flowers, but of their
shades and colors as well, and others have
testified to the extraordinary length of life
of the foliage of trees nightly submitted
to the influence of the promenade lamps.
|. The effect of the direct rays on the plant
seems to be similar to that of the direct
application of X-rays on the human system,
and discovery has been made in relation
thereto which may suggest some modfi-
cation in regard to the latter.
1t has been shown that the effect upon
both ligneous and herbaceous vegetation
was follows: The direct rays of the
electric arc are detrimental TO the normal
development of the tissues because of the
ultraviolet rays, which are not found in
the arc the same as in the suns rays. To
eliminate these it is simply necessary to in
terpose plain glass. which can easily be
used on farms dependent more or less upon
glass houses for early results.
The effect of the rays thus used was
shown by modification in the structure OF
lgneous plants and something similar in
those of herbaceous vegetation. A length
ened application of the rays stimulated de-
velopment and wrought more intense
green in the foliage. 1t was shown that
material increase in certain crops had been
realized and ripening accelerated.
An application of the electric current,
generated by chemical action, has also
been used around the roots of vegetables.
The results showed more rapid germina-
ton of seeds, Improvement of the fruit
qualities, as well as increase of quantity.
sometimes accomplishing even double the
normal yield.
LIGHTNING RODS UTILIZED.
A number of methods have been sug-
gested for practical demonstration. One OF
these is the utilizing OF lightning rods, the
charges from which are presumed TO be
beneficial to a field OF crops. The geonaag.