l)r Fyfe's Experiments on Electro-Culture. 145 



As to the gooseberry bushes, the fruit was at maturity at 

 the same time, and the crop as abundant on the one as on 

 the other. 



Having thus failed in obtaining the expected results, I 

 was naturally anxious to ascertain whether the wire as 

 erected had the power of receiving the electricity, as stated 

 by Dr Foster, and of conveying it to the earth ; and this was 

 tried in a variety of ways, — indeed, in every manner I could 

 think of, and the following were the results. 



The first trial was made with a galvanometer, consisting 

 merely of a needle suspended within a coil of armed wire, 

 the ends of which were connected with the wire passing 

 down the pole to the south, and which wire was cut, to en- 

 able me to make the connexions. Near the galvanometer 

 another needle was placed, but beyond the influence of each 

 other; — they both pointed exactly in the same direction. This 

 experiment was repeated again and again, varying the con- 

 nexions of the wires, and always with the same result. 



Not satisfied with this, I next had recourse to a more deli- 

 cate galvanometer, consisting of astatic needles, with a coil 

 of wire 300 inches in length. One end of the cut wire pass- 

 ing down the pole was connected with one end of the galvan- 

 ometer wire ; the other end of the pole wire had a metallic 

 cup, containing mercury, attached to it, and into which the 

 other end of the galvanometer was dipt, all the surfaces 

 being well mercurialized. On breaking and on establishing 

 the chain of communication, by raising and dipping the gal- 

 vanometer wire into the mercury, not the slightest move- 

 mont or the needle was observed. 



At the time that these trials were made, owing to a fall of 

 rain on the previous day, the poles and plants were wet ; the 

 experiment was therefore again and again repeated, varying 

 the connexions, after the weather had become dry, with 

 bright sunshine, and still with the same results. I next 

 tried whether a gold leaf electrometer would be affected by 

 contact with the wire. For this purpose it was placed on 

 the end of the cut wire, after being thoroughly dried, so as 

 to be easily moved by approach of sealing-wax slightly 

 rubbed, and the other end of the wire was then brought in 



VOL. XL. NO. LXXIX.— JANUARY 1846. K 



