Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-11-06
PLANT GROW I'll STIMULATED
Results of Experiments on Electricity
as a Fertilizer.
SURPRISING EFFECTS ARE NOTED
Tests Conducted on Long Island Com
pared with Like Experiments
I'm England, France and
Germany.


going on during the last few years as TO
the results of electricity as a stimulant of
plant growth but it remained for Ex-Judge
Thomas Ii. Williams Of Brooklyn, to give
the new theory a practical test on his
farm at East Northport, L. l.
or course, it mas been proven in labora-
tory tests that electricity will stimulate
plant growth else this elaborate test never
would have been planned. 1t is expected
that the growth of all common vegetables
fruits and flowers will be greatly increased
If not doubled by the mysterious stimuIant
Tho people interested in this new farming
predict a day when we will DO raising
twice the amount per acre as a result of
electrical fertilizer.
On the Williams farm a plot of two
acres favorably located has been set aside
for the experiments. The methods en-
! ployed are closely copied from the electric
farms of Germany. where surprising re-
suits have been obtained. AS the success
of the new method is proved the farm win
| be enlarged.
New York's electric farm will present
curious appearance to the layman in
such matters The ground used for the
tests is planted with iron poles twelve feet
in height, arranged in regular rows. The
of wires running crisscross fashion. Their
height above the ground will be great
enough to permit the workers or even the
farm wagons to pass beneath.
The current used combines a high am
perage with low voltage. 1t may be sup
piled at a comparatively light expense,
and with the aid of certain improvements
upon the German method, which Judge
| Williams is inaugurating 1t is believed
that the new stimulant may be made a
practically commercial possibility.
How Electric Fluids Work.
Interesting tests have been made to prove
exactly how the electric fluids work upon
plant life. A capillary tube when placed
in water charged with electricity shows
just how the stimulus OF electricity is felt.
When the circuit is turned on water is
forced up to the tube until It forms several
drops at the top. The quantity of water
which is thus raised is found to be in
direct ratio TO tho strength of the current
applied.
What happens to the isolated capillary
tube under the microscope u.s. of course,
repeated in millions Of the capillary tubes
Of the vegetation under electric culture
Tho current serves 10 force the sap Of the
plant upward Just as It raises the drop OF
water The circulation of the little tube
Is thus quickened the sap Is carried fur
Their and the plant is made TO grow faster
When the current is turned on in the
electric farm the invis,bl fluid leaps the
distance from the cross wires above the
poles to the earth. thus passing through
the plants which are in circuit, II the
current be made strong enough a LONG
spark will be formed between the wire,
and the ground In damp weather the
passage OF the electricity through the air
often produces a glow which is visible foI
a considerable distance.
The stimulating effect OF the electricity
. is greater than that OF powerful! nitrates
The current acts separately, however and
may thus no used to further stimulate tn,
action OF the nitrates If the growth Of q
= crop, for instance. be increased 50 per cent
I by using a powerful nitrate. the addition Of
E the electrical treatment will still further
increase the growth and produce remark
able results.
ola World Tests.
Electrical farming has been carried or
with great success near London by sll
, Oliver Lodge, as well as In Germany, Bel
GUM, Russia, France and Switzerland. TIT
results obtained vary considerably in diff
ferent countries The general averag
would seem to indicate that an increase o.
from 50 TO 70 per cent may be obtained il
q the size OF ordinary farm crops, and from
? 80 20 60 per cent in seeds and fruits.
Plants have been compared growing
Z under natural conditions and with tn
e sumulant OF tho electric treatment, so tina
J, a. exact measurement might be made. /
4 has been found that after lG4 hours OF tn
4 electric current marked results were OBJ
. tsined. Tho tobacco plant increased 80 pc
p cent faster under tho electric treatment
e boots increased u per cent faster, limi
4 beans IL per cent and carrots per cen
T, faster.
n IN the next test great care was taken Z
o determine the exact fertility OF the variou
n plots OF ground. IL was found that a con
u slant current Is far more effective than
variable one even though the time the tw
, act Is exactly the same Under more care
70 ful application Il was found that the germ
d lnation OF wheat and rye used in tests wa
70 very much more prompt
IS At the end OF the second test a wa
q found that the barley had grown q pc
cent faster because OF the stimulus Of n