Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-14

W in Arizona. and is most hopeful
of the things it may lead to. His ex-
detrimental work covered neither the
area nor the time he would have liked
to give it, and 1t was independent work,
done without the cooperation of the
government.
The enormous annual loss to fruit
growers melted the interest of P E.
Fuller and aroused his sympathy Tor
the unfortunate farmer. so he deter
mined to put his theory to the test.
throughout every section Of tire
country the fruit grower has ever been
a victim of capricious weather. Short
but unseasonably warm spells have re-
peatedly put his bank account to the
bad and caused him untold worry. and
he has sought in vain for an efficacious
remedy.
The combined financial loss sustained
by the fruit growers of the United
States amounts to hundreds or tnou-
sands of dollars each year; 1t Is OBJ
vious that the problem is big one. An
irrigation engineer. Mr.. Fuller first
conceived the idea that may prove a
panacea for the fruit growers future.
He knew that il retardation of early
budding could be successfully brought
"a bout that the greater part of the prob
lem was solved. He knew, too, that
electrolysis decomposes chemical com
pounds into their component parts.
Hence wasn't it possible by means of
electrolysis to so change trees spring
diet of carbonates. phosphates. nitrates,
food-and so retard the buds growth?
food-and SO retard the bud growth.
In doing this care must be taken not 10
hinder or in any way reduce the tree
circulation, but of course the sap car
ried through the veins Is less rich in
nourishing materials than the sap in
tree untouched by e1ectrolysis 1t was
actually demonstrated that under this
treatment a decided retardation of the
buds growth took place
This test was made in the Salt River
valley of Arizona. where the climate is
equable, which was believed by the ex-
perimenter to be an advantageous con-
dition. He has faith that in a climate
Of extremes his demonstration would
prove to be of even more practical
value.
In the early part of 1915 the expert
menter selected two almond trees for
experimental work and observation.
They were both in their fifth year and
conditions regulating their develop
ment were as nearly similar as it was
possible to get them.
In the trunk Of one of the trees tiny
hole about one-sixty-fourth of an inch
in diameter was bored About foot
and half from the surface of the
ground a gold pin was driven into the
tree. A dry battery had been provided
and a wire was attached from the mega
tive side Of this battery to the gold pin
In a bit of ground about two feet
distant from the trees trunk rod was
put in the earth and to this the positive
side of the battery was connected. The
flow of electric current was SO incon-
siderable that it was impossible to
measure it with the instruments avail
able. Later it was thought advisable
to increase the voltage somewhat, so
four more dry batteries were added.
The voltage was kept constant
throughout the experiment and the
flow of electricity was at no time in
creased.
Observations were made constantly
and after several days had passed 1t
was gratifying to Mr.. Fuller to find
that the buds on the almond tree I'M
touched by electrolysis were percepti-
bly, larger than those on the tree which
had been treated, which proved to him
conclusively that SO far his theory was
correct.
Before the introduction of any cleo
trolytic treatment the buds on the two
trees had been he same in size. very
important point. Only those buds on
the very tips OF the tree treated by
electrolysis developed faster than the
buds on the untreated tree, the other
buds showed no signs of maturing I'M
til some time later.
From results Mr.. Fuller decided that
the electric current would have done
more efficient work if it had been
slightly stronger, in which case i'm
poverished food would have reached
the trees tips and so retarded the
buds growth He concluded also that
in his own experiment it would have
been much better TO have stopped the
continuous flow of current sooner than
he did.
Mr. Fuller hopes that this experiment
will be tried elsewhere by fruit grow
ers, that a good many trees may be
tried with the electrolytic treatment
and that the closest observations be
noted. BY following such line of
procedure il would be possible to learn
the strength of the electric current
necessary to discourage bud develop