The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-19
a Prophetic Picture by A. Lauos, the Famous
French Imaginative Artist, Showing the Men
OF the Future Farming by Electricity.

~IR OLIVER LODGE, the leading scientific clectri.
clan of England, the inventor of devices that
made wireless telegraphy possible and many
other inventions. recently made remarkable address
about electrical experiments that would help TO feed
cheaply
The address the annual delivered In honor
Of the scientist the late Lord Kelvin before the
British Institution of Electrical Engineers
Sir Oliver Lodge showed that the natural electricity
OF the atmosphere il properly directed would stimulate
and that produce rain or drought accord
ing to the apparatus employed for regulating it,
He said that the upper atmosphere height OF zoo
miles was filled with Unreasonable store of postvC
electricity. which would be Of the greatest value in
growing crops.
He described many experiments that had actually
been made In promoting fertility by electricity.
then went on to suggest experiment that would bring
down positive solar electricity the polar regions,
make those regions fertile as the equatorial zones
and produce regular dependable weather all over the
earth
lie also pointed out that The existence Of store
OF solar electricity indicated by the beautiful and
amazing auroras OF far northern southern ATTITUDES
and suggested that the cxplorao of the upper atmos
phere now going would help TO tap that source
rue aodress mas excited great Interest among Euro
pean scientific because the question of feeding the
human race is the most vital problem of the immediate
future. Within comparatively few wears some scion
fists estimate not more than two centuries the whole
foodproducng capacity of the earth will be taxed TO
Its utmost simply to maintain life In the then existing
population.
When that state OF affairs arrives any drought en-
tending over considerable part OF the earth or any
natural cause producing failure the crops and food
animals VIII reduce large part OF the population to
actual starvation, even though they NAV have the
money to pay for food But II the weather could be
regulated electrically could depend on certain
minimum food supply. At the same time the nations
would be forced to restrict the population IN PROMOTION
TO that supply.
IL Is because Sir Oliver Lodges address suggests
practical solution OF this great problem that It is
arousing universal attention
IN the first place he described how rain could be pro-
ouced by negative electricity and fine weather by posi
tive electricity.
In 1883 and 1884, said Sir Oliver Lodge IL was in
'esusating DUST and Hs electrication and gave a
oemonstrauon at meeting the British Association
al montreal-where Lord Kelvin was present and va
very enthusiastic about as he always was for any
new experimentation Ing the effect of Identification on
dusty or smoky air. The particles aggregated together
INTO Kind OF visible Jumps snow--coverinc some.
what as iron filings do near a magnet--and fell or
deposited upon the surface The experiment has become
SO familiar that shall not show IT, want TO en-.
phasize the fact also exhibited at same time that
that is to say cloud visible steam n discharge