The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-08-30
CONTROLLING PLANT GROWTH.
dow the Mysterious Power Of Electricity
fs Hero Used.

dow the Mysterious Power OF Electricity
is Here Used.
Flowers that bloom to-day exceed all
creations of ma snre. Vi0lets are dou-
bled and tripled in size. A race Of
pansies has been raised up to measure
two inches around their faces. Red
roses have been turned into purple
and black. and white ones into all the
colors of the rainbow. Rose, g, bushes
have been converted into trees and
vines. bearing flowers in clusteEs, like
grapes. Chrysanthemums have been
made to bloom like sunf1Owers. and
lilies and tulips have been raised In
darkness and light. so that their or
iginal characteristics were almost
totally obliterated.
In modern plant experimental
laboratory the electric light arc creates
transformations that astonish the
most hardened Investigator. Night
and day the bright light stimulates the
plants in their growth. while all sun
shine is cut out from the building.
The delicate violet grows rapidly, ma
turing its flowers in few weeks.
The rose flowers with most brilliant
colors ahead Of its regular season. The
reds are intensified in brightness, but
they fade quickly. Born in day and
night. their period Of usefulness is
measured by the same short span of
existence. When brought to the light
of day they grow sickly and fade
rapidly.
The electric arc has produced roses
eight inches in diameter and vio!ets
more than an inch across. Tulips be-
came giants. and chrysanthemums re-
semble cabbages in size. Experiments
with electricity show further that the
light modified by different-colored
globes produces varied results. Red
globes intensity the growth and in
crease the hrilliancy of colors. but they
also weaken the vitality Of the, plants.
The flowers quickly fade away and de-
cay, and the plants succumb to Or
dinary disease or to chills. White
globes. which dissipate the rays and
spread them more uniformly, make the
plants grow steadily and satisfactorily.
But the yellow globes SO far have
given the best satisfaction, while blue
ones apparently neufralize the whole
effect OF the electric light.
Electricity is not life, hut it stinu-
lates life in plants. Its adaptation
may yet revolutionize horticulture. In
our home lighted by electricity the con-
servatory becomes an experimental
garden. We modify the lights with
shades suited to the needs of the diff
ferent potted plants. The sick ones
are revived by course in electric
therapeutics. The pots are placed near
the incandescent or arc lights accord
ing to the amount Of light and stimula-
ton they need, and under their power
full influence they revive and their
diseases are destroyed
The disease-producing insects call
not stand the fierce glare of the elec-
tric light placed within few feet OF
them. They attempt to hide beneath
the leaves or in the stems, but the
light penetrates all, dislodging or de-
stroying them. The powerful white
rays are so destructive to insect life
that a course of electric therapeutics
is now used instead of poisonous
sprays in laboratories to cleanse the
plants.
In the homes where the electric light
cannot be used the. employment OF or
dinary sunlight, magnified and modi-
fed by glass and mirrors, is made pos
sible. The amateur fower-grower will
lind the sunlight susceptible OF con-
liderable change and manipulation.
First, the exclusion of all white rays
by covering the windows with red
glass or red curtains is important. The
powerful rays directed on the plants
stimulate and then destroy, driving
away the insects.-Herald.