The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-14
EIectric CuIture system.


Electric Culture System.
The experiments in growing plants
under the electric culture system, by
which electric light is used at night as
| substitute for the suns rays, are pro-
ceeding with most satisfactory results
at the Royal Botanic Gardens.
| About three weeks ago the Express
explained the system, and showed how
powerful arc lamps were made to travel
| slowly on overland rails up and down a
house full of plants. thus turning night
| into day for three hours every night.
Tomato plants. fuchsias, geraniums
| chysanthemums and ferns thus treated
! grew in only a few days much taller and
stronger than similar untreated plants
| which were of the same size when the
| experiments began.
| The plants treated by this midnight
| sun" now show very interesting and i'm
| portant results, and Mr.. B. H. Thwaite,
| F. c.. S., who initiated this form of cleo
| trio culture, lectured yesterday on the
system before the Royal Horticultural
society.
He stated that the plants which up
to yesterday had been subjected to the
arc light treatment at the Royal Bo-
/ tanic Gardens for IS hours, were a
| month ahead of the untreated plants,
| and this was strikingly Illustrated by
| lantern slides showing treated and un-
treated plants side by side.
Mr.. Thwaite told an Express repre-
sentative after the lecture that the in
ted 80 per cent.
1.-THE tomatoes have done especially
WELL" he said, land the chrysanthe
NUNS have Powered more freely than
those plants which have been outside
( the influence of the electric arc.
| ut is my impression that we shall be
| able before very long to increase our
crops by 300 or 400 per cent by electric
| culture rather than a mere 80 per cent,
| and that this system of culture will
prove of great commercial value. ex-
| pect to get q very large increase on the
results achieved by the electro-static
system; but my ideal is combination
of the two-the arc light in the houses
and the wires over the fields, deriving
| their current from the same electric
plant."-London Express.
Thomas the Tank.
E. J. Berwind, the great coal oper-
ator of Philadelphia, was asked by a
reporter, at his beautiful Newport
villa, a rather stupid question in Hfn-
ance.
Mr. Berwind laughed.
'"That question: he said. sis about
as absurd and as ludtcrous as tab
leau once saw in little French
theater, in New Orleans.
1.-THE curtain rose up in the thea
ter. revealing large bed draped with
Grape, and occupied by an elderly wo-
man who held a black-edged hand
kerchief to her eyes, A widow, plain
wept. Her wound was still raw.
ION the other pillow beside the
widow lay large bottle of gin. She
turned toward the bottle, and sobbing
as If her heart would break, she said
tenderly:
".Ah. when I see and smell the gin
there, think it's poor Thomas back
at my side again."
An Excellent Diagnosis.
"A medical student who prided HIM
self on being a hunorist was running
down the steps of the hospital which he
was walking" when he met fellow
student Hello, Brown!" cried the lat
ter, noticing that his friend looked
pleased. you're in a hurry. What's the
matter-any good cases?"
IT should think so!' cried Brown.
We've got a woman in the ward up
stairs who is so cross-eyed that the
tears run down her back!"
'eBless mel said his friend. 'FYou
at should think we can-in fact, we
have" cried Brown; we've treated her
for a!''-Philadelphi Inquirer.
How He Got Even.
A newspaper man went off for holi- |
day. and after arrival at the seaside |
resort he favored he entered the post |
Office to send off a telegram. He asked |
the young woman in attendance several
questions regarding the service, but she |
cut him short by exclaiming: 81 am not
paid to answer silly questions" Imag- |
Inc the woman's feelings when she |
found herself compelled to wire the fol-
lowing: Arrived safe. Girls here ugly |
and bad-tempered."- Exchange.
A Natural Error.
All shuddered.
"Ah, how that poor, injured halfback
must be suffering" one exclaimed.
Listen! Did you ever hear such
dreadful yells?"
''Oh, that amt him. the trainer ex-
plained That's the consulttn sur
reons arguin' in the ante-room."
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.
IFrom the Chicago News.]
MANY a man wears q thinking cap
under his silk hat.
An engagement ring is girls idea of
a band of hope.
Anyway, a bald man doesn't have to
worry about gray hair.
Between the two evils-a kicker and
no choice.
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