Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-12-30
PROXY FOR THE SUN.


Electric Light.
Electricity Is to be put to a novel
use by the department Of agriculture.
A laboratory is being equipped in the
division OF pathology for the purpose
Of conducting experiments in the
growing of plants by the aid Of an
electrical appliance, according to the
Washington Star. The experiments
are based on the theory that the
growth OF vegetable matter. which
ceases at shutdown, will continue
through the night if proper artificial
light is supplied to stimulate the nat
ural developing powers of plants.
I'm some respects plants are much
the same as the human race" said an
official Of the department to-day. Eat
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.
1T is with an idea of supplying an
artificial sun that these experiments
are being made. If it is found that
the growth of plants can be doubled
at nominal expense and that they
can be grown in winter the same as
in summer the agricultural industry
will have received an unprecedented
St1muluS. Scientific research has al
ready done much to bring the farming
industry to a higher level, but more
is at stake in the present undertaking,
perhaps, than ever before"
The laboratory is now being made
ready for the experiments and the
work will commence very shortly. Ow-
ing to the peculiar nature of the ex-
periments the department is reluctant
to give out information concerning
them, and it is likely that secrecy will
be maintained in regard to the prog
resS OF the research until it is learned
that the undertaking is practical or
hopeless from commercial viewpoint.
Experiments will be made largely
on lettuce, which has been found pc
culiarly susceptible to electrical infu-
ence. The plants will be kept under
strong light during the night, with a
view of having the electrical rays take
the place Of the sun. The light will be
as far as possible Of the same radiancy
with which the sun shines upon plants
growing in gardens
1t will probably take year or more
before actual results are obtained
from the experiments. Scientists at
tached to the bureau Of plant industry
have already learned by investigation
that it is possible to grow plants by
electricity. 1t has not been proved,
however, that the expense incidental
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 propa-
gated in the regular way.
The experiments are in line with the
policy of the department to lessen in
every possible way the cost of farm
ing. In other words, if it is found that
vegetables can be raised cheaper by
doubling their developing properties,
the department will have cause to feel
that it has given a great stimulus to
agricultural interests. And if it 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 bee% done. The de-
partment merely desires to get the I'M
dertaking down to a commercial basis
if it is possible.