THE ELECTROCULTURE OF CROPS 621 



observations readily understandable. It is clear that Gassner 

 was dealing with a phenomenon of the same type as Molisch, 

 in which the intensity of the agent and duration of its action 

 determine the result. It is regrettable that such a view should 

 not have presented itself to Gassner and that he should simply 

 have attempted to explain his experimental results in the 

 light of a single process, namely, evaporation of water. 



Limitation of space has prevented us in this article from 

 going into detail in regard to the very numerous experiments 

 which have been performed on electroculture. We hope, 

 nevertheless, we have made clear our main object, which is to 

 emphasise that the condition for development of electroculture 

 is a sounder outlook in plant physiology. 



It is true that in the past the contributions of plant physi- 

 ology to our subject have been negligible, and what advances 

 have been made have come from the physicist. Nevertheless, 

 although a knowledge of physical methods is essential for 

 intelligent research in electroculture, the problems involved 

 are essentially problems of plant physiology. With a sounder 

 outlook in plant physiology, the apparent discrepancy between 

 plant physiology and agriculture should disappear, and great 

 developments in the methods of crop production should take 

 place. It is only when research, based on this new outlook 

 in plant physiology, has become established, that we shall be 

 able to judge how far the application of stimuli, including the 

 electric discharge, may be of economic importance in the pro- 

 duction of crops. 



London, 

 November 2, 19 17. 



