Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-01-02
Scientific Ass'ns.
Kansas City, Make
Interesting Reports

over nan or the SCtenOnC aSS0cla-
tions gathered at Kansas City under
the auspices of the American Asso-
citation for the Advancement OF
Science in convention December %
to January 1, were directly concerned
with the fundamental facts that pro-
mote, protect and assist agriculture.
One forward looking report made by
John NJ. Arthur. John D. Guthrie and
James E. Webster of the Boyce
Thompson Institute Of Plant Re-
search at Yonkers, New York, dealt
with the comparison of plants grown
under different conditions Of light, and
carbondioXid. Lantern slides illus
trated the different effects produced
in growth, Towering and maturing
seed. The chemical composition of
the plants so grown was also given.
Some outstanding results reported,
OF importance practically, as we'll as
of scientific interest in establishing
laws of plant growth. included these:
Cd Spring wheat, barley, and oats
headed in four months when grown
in the green house with 6 hours Of adj
ditional light from a gantry crane
carrying 4S 1000 watt lamps) and
additional carbondioxid 90 times as
much as the air). The control plants
headed a month later. Plants getting
extra light but no carbon, dioxid
We're shorter and gave less of both
grain and straw than did those get
ting both extra light and gas.
CD Red clover also getting six
hours extra light and ten times the
amount of carbondioxid gas in the air.
Powered in 38 days after planting the
seed. and plants two feet high were
produced in two months from seed.
In ordinary agricultural practice this
would take two years growth.
CD In the constant light rooms, it
was conclusively proved that the to-
mato dies under continuous artificial
illumination, grows slowly on a nine
teen hour day. but on a seventeen
hour day it will fruit. -
Effects produced on radishes, egg.
plant, aster, soybean and other plants
were shown by lantern slides.
The analyses of the plants showed
that increased carbondioxid and
more light, up to eighteen hours,
gives plants with less nitrogen and
more starch. sugar and fibre than
was found in control plants. grown
under ordinary daylight and with the
usual Sdl bOlltllOAlu Ol the air.
Such results may be of practical
value in guiding the adaptation Of
crops to the conditions Of season and
locality, and in modifying greenhouse
practices, and do establish the funda-
mental laws of plant life. Already, in
Germany, carbondioxid, as a waste
from nearby factory boilers, has been
advantageously used in the sugar beet
and potato fields.
A report made by DIR. Mary E.
Reid gave results obtained on seed
lings grown in darkness and in light,
with and without carbon dioxide added
to the atmosphere, and grown on
their own seed reserves and with nj
trogen added as fertilizer.
The results show that different
seedlings respond very differently to
the same set of surroundings; their
behavior apparently varies with the
composition of the seed, especially
with regard to the amount of nitro
gen it contains. These points will
prove Of Importance to the farmer in
providing the seedlings with the best
environment for growth, especially as
regards fertilization and irrigation.
Corn, with comparatively little por-
tein in the seed, grown in darkness on
it's own seed reserve. attained only
about one-seventh as much substance
by weight as did the sunfiower with
its large amount of seed protein. The
shoots obtained were four times
heavier for the sunflower. In the
same way high protein wheat and
corn produced greater weight of
shoots than varieties having little.
protein in the seed.
When grown in the light, high
protein seeds doubled their growth
and had greener leaves when a liberal
supply of carbondioxide was added to
the air they breathed. But the roots
were increased much more than the
shoots by this added ration. Seeds
with but little protein grew better