Evening star., 1905-10-17
PROXY FOR THE SUN
ATTEMPT TO RAISE LETTUCE BY
ELECTRIC LIGHT.

Electricity is to be put to novel use
by the Department Of Agriculture. lab
oratory is being equipped In the division OF
pathology for the purpose of conducting ex-
periments In the growing of plants by the
All of an electrical appliance. The expert
ments are based on the theory that the
growth of vegetable matter. which ceases
at sundown, will continue through the
night IL proper artificial light is supplied TO
stimulate the natural developing powers of
plants.
In some respects plants are much the
same as the human race" said an official
of the department today. AT night they
go to sleep. the same as we do. and their
growth ceases until the following day The
sun is their source of life, keeping their
growing faculties working and being the
foundation of their natural development.
An Artificial Sun.
1T Is with an idea of supplying an arti-
fetal sun that these experiments are being
made. If 1t is found that the growth of
plants can be doubled at a nominal ex-
pense. and that they can be grown in win
ter the same as in summer, the agricul-
tural industry will have received an un-
precedented stimulus. Scientific research
has already done much to bring the farm
ing industry to higher level, but more
is at stake in the present undertaking. per-
haps. than ever before"
The laboratory is now being made ready
Tor the experiments and the work will
commence very shortly. Owing to the pc
cullar nature of the experiments the de-
partment Is reluctant to give out informa-
ton concerning them, and 1t is likely that
secrecy will be maintained in regard to the
progress of the research until 1t is learned
that the undertaking is practical or hope
less from commercial viewpoint
Experiments will be made largely on let
tuce. which has been found peculiarly sus-
ceptible to electrical influences. The plants
Will be kept under n strong light during
trfcal rays take the place of the sun. The
llght Will be as far as possible of the same
radfancy with which the sun shines upon
plants growing in gardens.
May Take Year
1t will probably take a year or more be-
fore actual results are obtained from the
experiments Scientists attached to the
bureau of plant industry have already
learned by investigation that it is possible
to grow plants by electricity. 1t has not
been proven however, that the expense in
cidental to the employment Of this means
is cheaper than the means nature has
adopted to carry on her work. There is
some doubt, too, whether vegetables grown
in an artificial manner will be of the same
quality as those propagated in the regular
way.
The experiments are in line with the pol
icy of the department to lessen in every
possible way the cost of farming. In other
words. If it is found that vegetables can be
raised cheaper by doubling their develop
ing properties, the department will have
cause to feel that it has given a great
stimulus to agricultural interests And if
1t is shown that the extra cost of using
electricity is greater than to allow plants
to form in their usual way no harm will
have been done. The department merely
desires to get the undertaking down to a
commercial basis if it is possible.