The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-11-24
EFFECT OF ErHEs ON PLANTS.
Experiments at Cornell Show Some
Startling Results.

Al Cornell university, Ithaca, N. Y,
extensive experiments in the etheriza.
tion Of plants have been under way
for some time, conducted by C. l..
Lewis and J. q. Howett, the former
looking after the bulbs, and the lat.
Ter being intrustet With the forcir o
Of shrubs and herbaceous plants. un.
der the direction Of Professor John
Craig, head Of the horticultural de-
Tertment. $50
I 1.-THE objects OF the work are tiy tssst
the efficiency of ether on the forcing
OF such herbaceous perennials as
aquilegias, golden glows and astilbi
japonicas bulbes of the narcissus
tulip, ahyacinth, Easter lily and of
various miscellaneous plants, to de.
termine, II possible, the number of
+ hours plants should be exposed to
ether to obtain best results, to acquire
an idea of the amount of ether re.
quired, to test the use of ether on
forcing of rhubarb and asparagus, to
see IL common shrubs respond alike
to the action of ether, to determine
whether 1t Is possible to ripen ber.
ries, and thus make salable for
Christmas such plants as the aucudas,
and, finally, to obtain an idea of the
efficiency of the forcing of plants bJ
ether from the commercial standpoin.
The shrubs are obtained in the fall
shortly after cold weather has set in,
and are placed in room where the
temperature is kept as near freezing
as possible. When plants are re,
Quired for use they are taken out a
few hours before placing them in
ether, In order that they may become
comparatively dry before etherizauon
The etherizing apparatus consists
OF an alright galvanized iron box
made especially for this purposef ,
feet inches by 2 feet inches. II
contains two trays, rendering II pos
sible to have three tiers of bulbs or
plants undergoing the experiment al
once. The trays are composed. OF
heavy wire mesh in order that the
ether may permeate every part OF
the box. In order to render the box
absolutely alright, the cover is so
made that 1t fits down about Ave
inches over the body of the box, rest.
ing on flange or ridge which is
overlaid with thick felt. Precautions
being taken to clamp the lid on firmly,
the box is practically alright.
In placing such plants as aquilegias,
golden glows and spiraeas In the box,
care must be taken to remove as
much dirt as possible from the roots,
giving the ether free access. Shrubs,
lilacs, eac., are placed in the box
without being potted. When the pre-
limlnary work is completed = small
ball OF felt, containing the required
amount of ether is introduced into
the alright box, and the lid clamped
down as rapidly as possibleH
When removed, after, twenty-four.
thirty-six or .fortysaight hours, as the
case may. be, the splants are aired
before being placed, In the forcing
house. Other specimens of the same
plant. knowfeas check plants, are put
at their side TO enable the expert
menter to make his comparisons.
The lilac has given the (bestsresults,
etherized Hlacs coming into bloom
from eight TO ten days earher than
the untreated ones. With Japanese
ounce and deutzis the results are not
as marked, Under the head of her
baceous plants, golden glows or aqui
Iegias gave little or no results. while, |
on the other hand, spiraeas aesti-
bodies showed the action of ether in
most remarkable manner, the ether
zeZd plant coming into full bloom |
rom ten days to three weeks before
The unetherlzed Rhubard treated In |
1 like manner was ready to cut five |
lays before the untreated rhubarb, |
md yielded much larger proportion
Of edible stocks. In the case )f |
asparagus, a remarkable phenomenon
vas observed. The plant grew riot.
,usiy. becoming tall and splndly and
was absolutely unfit for use. The 4
tately Easter lily shows indications
Il blooming from one TO three weeks
before the unetherized sample. IlI
The use of ether bn plants marks
! revolution In horticulture. The
specimens subjected not only grow
With increased rapidity, but the
lower seems to attain fuller bloom
md maturity.