Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-11-29
ELECTRIC FARMING.
Three Different Methods of Applying
CUrrent-Lnrger Crops Result of
Experiments Made In
Three Count rleN.

Just 100 years ago the iirSt experiments
in growing plants by the aid of electric
ity took place. and since that time one
eXperimenter after another has cssayed.
more or less unsuccessfully to yoke tn.
subtle forces Of electricity to the plodds1g
but certain methods of nature in the grow
ing Of fruits, flowers and vegetables.
That the operations which govern the
growth of a plant and the mysterious en-
ergy known as electricity are akin Is
shown by the fact that plant growth can
under co,Igenial conditions be considerably
accelerated by the conjunction of the
twain, but scientists have yet to ascer-
tain the way in which electricity may
be employed to render the union of the
two forces positive and certain, in action.
Nevertheless, writes Thomas Want in the
London Daily Mail, signs are not want
Ing that the time is not far distant when
the words electrically grown will be rs
great a hallmark OF superiority as were
once the words LIGHTHOUSE grown ap-
piled to grapes.
At the present moment there are three
sets Of experiments in progress. In France
powerful arc lamps are being used IN
ra; ~os of glass houses with tho object
of encouraging plant growth at night as
we'll as by day. The records OF eXper-
iments show that growth of the plar,s
under treatment has been accelerated to
the extent OF 10 per cent. of the average
normal period and even speedier action
may be looked for when the tone and
power of the light are moro nearly at
tuned to the exact requirements of the
plants.
Another exper!ment-and this one is
taking place in Germany-nas for its OBJ
feet the acceleration of growth by the aid
of electric currert. This is transmitted
to the soil in which tho subjects are grow
ing and the diffusion of the energy among
TIE roots tends to strengthen cellular ac-
ton and thus hastens growth. So far
better results have been obtained by this
method than by that already described
but In this system, as in the others. the
action OF the current IL as distinctly neg
alive on some occasions as it Is favorable
on others.
A third method of Harvesting the elu-
s;ve agent to the humdrum operations Of
the husbandman Is now engaging the at
tention of our own countrymen, la the
picturesque vale Of Evesham, on the farm
Of a Bevington firm. an electrical plant
and barley ard a certain quantity of veg
etables have been grown here during the
last few months under the influence Of
electricity In this case the electricity Is
transmitted to the crops from a series
of overhead wires.
In the first place an oil engir.o is used
to afford the motive power, then a dyn-
amo is employed to supply the electric
current, which is conveyed to the crops
by wires attached to posts by movable
insulators. These movable insulators
make It possible to vary the height of the
wses above the ground in accordance
with the height of the crop ur,ler treat
mont--as the plants grow so the wires
are raised
This method OF dlscharging high ten
sion electricity from overhead wires is
probably the modern edition of tie system
employed by Mairbry Scotchman, IN
the year 1916. History is wonderfully ST.
lent concerning the results OF TINS plo-
necr's work. so it may be taken for grant
ed that no startling additions to the sum
of human knowledge rewarded his enter
prise. 1t was not until the year 1885 that
the investigators of Maimbray were seri-
ously reinforced by the experiments or
Prof Lemstrom OF Helsingfors university,
and this gentleman has devoted much
patie.,t labor and research to tho sub
iect from that time until the present.
OF the various methods of applying cleo
tricity tried by him the application of the
wires yielded the best results, and from
the time that this fact was thoroughly
established he has steadily persisted with
his own experiments at Helsinsfors and
encouraged others to do likewise, bot
in his own country and in France and
England,
The plant established ut Bevingtop il
on the lines adopted by the professor. SIM
liar experiments were carried out under
his direction at the Durham College
of science, Newcastle in the year
1902 on which occasion despite many ad-
verse circumstances. the following In
creased percentages were obtained from
the crops under treatment: Strawberries
81 per cent. potatoes 3l.l. mangolds %
and peas 20.
better idea OF tho profit obtalrsable
from an electrically grown crop may he
gathered from a pro forma statement
prepared by Prof. Lemstrom and based