The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1906-01-18
ARTIFICIAL. SUN FOR LETTUCE.
Electric Light for the Vegetable Ex-
periments bv Departure of Agriculture.

Electric Light for the Vegetable Ex-
periments by Departure of Agriculture.
The department of agriculture is
having equipped a laboratory for the
purpose of conducting experiments In
the growing of plants by the aid OF
electricity. The experiments are bas-
ed on the theory that the growth oil
vegetable matter, which cas- at sun
down, will continue through the night
II proper artificial light is supplied to
stimulate the natural developing pow
ers OF plants. In some respects plants
are the same AS the human race, ac-
cording to an officer of the depart
ment. "At night they go to sleep, the
same as we do, and their growth
ceases until the following day. The
sum 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. IL 1t is
found that the growth of plants can
be doubled at a nominal expense, and
that they can be grown in winter the
same as in summer, the agricultural
industry will have received an UMPIRE
cedented stimulus. Scientific re-
search has already lone much to bring
the farming industry to a higher eyel,
but more it as stake in the present
undertaking, perhaps, than ever be-
fore"
The laboratory is now being made
ready for the experiments, and the
work will m very shortly.
Owing to the peculiar nature OF the
experiments the department is re-
luctant to give out information con-
corning them, and it is likely that sec
recy will be maintained in regard to
the progress of the research until 1t is
learned that the undertaking is prac-
tical or hopeless from a commercial
viewpoint. Experiments will be made
largely on lettuce, which has been
found peculiarly susceptible to cleo
trical influences. The plants will be
kept under a strong light during the
night, with a view of having the cleo
trical 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 a year or more
before actual results are obtained
from the experiments. Scientists at
tached to the bureau of plant industry
have already learned by investiga-
ton that it is possible to grow plants
by electricity. II has not been proven,
however, that the expense incidental
to the employment of this mean is
| cheaper that 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 propagat-
ed in the regular way. The expert
ments are in line with the policy OF
the department to lessen in every pos
sible way the cost of farming. In
other words, if it is found that vege-
tables can be raised cheaper by doub-
ling 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 been done. The de-
partment merely desires to get the
undertaking down to a commercial
basis if it is possible.