The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-02-08
CONTROLLING PLANT GROWTH.
dow the Mysterious Power Of Electricity
is Hero Used.

dow the Mysterious Power Of Electricity
10 Hero Used.
Flowers that bloom to-day exceed all
creations of nature. Violets 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
colcrs of the rainbow. Rose bushes
have been converted into trees and
vines. bearing flowers in clusters, like
grapes. Chrysanthemums have been
made to bloom like s%unfowers. and
lilies and tulips have been raised In
darkness and light, so that their or
iginal characteristics were almost
totally obliterated.
In q 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 SUM-
shine is cut out from the building.
The delicate violet grows rapidly, ma.
turing it's flowers in a few weeks.
The rose flowers with most brilliant
fcoIors ahead of it's regular season. The.
reds are Intensified in brightness, but
they fade quickly. Born in a 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 violets
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 brilliancy Of c~olors. but they
also weaken the vitality Of the plants.
The flowers quickly fade away and de
cay and the plants succumb to or
binary 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 satisfa ction, while blue
mes apparently neutralize the whole
effect of the electric light.
Electricity is not life, but it stimu-
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 a 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. r
The disease-producing insects can
not stand the fierce glare Of the elec-
trio light placed within a few feet OF
them. They attempt to hide beneath
the leaves or in the stems, but the
light penetrates ull, %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
binary sunlight. magnihed and modi-
fed by glass and mirrors, is made pos
Bible. The amateur dower-grower Will
lind the sunlight susceptible of con-
liderablc 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.