Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-05-23

Washington. d. c., May 19.-The
experiment Of trying to make plant
grow twenty-four hours a day by ex-
posing it to electrical light at night
was tried not long ago by scientists OF
the department Of agriculture. Had 1t
been success. wonders might have
teen accomplished In the rapid pro-
duction of food crops. A nation at
war, for example, would have been
able to double the productivity OF Its
soil.
All OF these large possibilities were
nipped in the bud The plant grew
with abnormal rapidity for a time, and
then It got sick. Even though the
same amount of light and heat were
supplied by electricity at night as the
sun afforded during the day. the plant
could not grow healthily without sun
light
This experiment shows that solar
radiation-quite apart from the temp
erature 1t produces-is an essential
to plant life; yet it is the one element
in climate which has not been closely
studied until recently. Temperature,
wind, rainfall and all Of the other
things that 60 to make up weather
have been carefully observed and
charted. You can write to the wealth
er bureau and ask them about the
climate of almost any township In the
United States, and they will give 1t to
you for every season Of the year In
exact figures. The only thing, they
can not tell you is the amount OF solar
radiation received by that particular
township. unless you live in one OF
four places where investigations OF
solar radiation are being carried on.
When these investigations have
been made in all parts OF the United
States, one more element In climate,
one more factor in agriculture, will
have been charted and put to intelll-
gent use. A real step forward in the
control Of man over nature will have
been taken.
It is known. for example. that In
countries where solar radiation IA
strong, sugar beets yield far higher
percentage of sugar In proportion to
their bulk. This suggests that solar
radiation Is an essential element In
the conversion of starch into sugar
within the plant
This study of the suns energy also
opens another fascinating possibility
that Of putting the sun to work. The
construction Of practicable motor
which would use the heat OF the sun
would solve the power question for
ever. The price of gasoline would
worry us no longer. Power would be
free and inexhaustible.
The problem is particularly tempt
ing because it can easily be solved on
small scale. Anyone can build a
sun motor that will turn little
wheel, and in Southern California one
was constructed with concave mirror
surface which focused the rays OF the
sun so as to develop considerable
power. It was not, however. CONNER.
cially practicable. The secret Of how
to capture and concentrate the heat
of the suns rays remains unsolved.
Scientific observation. however. may
show the way. DR.. Kimball, who Is
conducting the investigations at Wash
ington, recently discovered quite by
accident that when an electric light
bulb is exposed to sunlight the fla
ment quickly attains a temperature
above boiling. This suggests that a
large glass VdCCuul ulSu with h'o
men1s might capture and store the
suns energy in disable quantities. The
idea is offered to inventors for what
it maye be worth.
Studies of solar radiation are now
being carried on by the government at
four Madison, Wis; Lincoln,
Neb.; Santa Fee, N. M. and Washing
ton, D. c.. Observations are made OF
the amount Of heat that given area
receives from the sun, and OF the
amount that is radiated from the
earth, under all conditions and at all
times of the year. This informa-
ton is accurately charted for 4
number of years. SO that by referring
to the chart you can determine for
example, Just how much solar radia-
ton your garden ought to receive dur
ing the first week in June.
Separate observations are made Of
the amount of light afforded by the