Nov. 2, 1908.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.TF. 879 



•are being conducted mainly with the object of enabling the Department 

 -to answer inquiries for information, rather than with the vievv of establishing 

 ■systems of commercial utility. It is sought to protect market gai-deners and 

 •others engaged in intensive culture from the unscrupulous representations of 

 parties interested in the sale of electrical machines or patent rights. Field 

 tests are now in operation at the Arlington Experiment Farm. The system 

 differs from that of Lemstrom's wire-netting arrangement. Instead of being 

 just above the surface, the network is supported on insulators 7 feet above 

 the ground. The network is heavily charged for several hours each day by 

 means of a mica plate electrostatic machine. Areas on each side, not under 

 the network, serve as controls or checks. In tlie last annual report of the 

 Department, published last April, it is stated that the experiments have not 

 yet progressed sufficiently for a definite report thereon. Experiments on a 

 tobacco crop, by means of an electric current passed through the soil, 

 .brought no advantage to the crop. As before remarked, experience every- 

 where seems to establish the fact that all plants do not respond to the same 

 treatment. In regard to the cabbage and several other plants, Lemstrom 

 •explains that this inequality was found to arise from an insufficiency of water. 



9. Sir Oliver Lodge's Experiments. 



In the experiments which are being conducted by Sir Oliver Lodge, 

 Principal of the Birmingham University, the current is also sufficiently 

 ■overhead to admit of the free working of the crops by horses and vehicles ; 

 and the system differs from that of Lemstrom, in having no close network. 

 Wires are stretched across the field on poles. The generating power required 

 is small ; a two horse-power oil engine, driving a small dynamo in an outhouse, 

 ^ives sufficient current to fertilise an area of 18 acres. The current is thrown 

 ■off by the main wires and cross wires, and is absorbed by the plants. 

 Anyone walking beneath the wires can feel the effect on the hair of the 

 iead, and on the face. 



In the wheat area experimented on Ijy 8ir Oliver, the effects were visible 

 from a very early stage. The plants wer-e of a darker green, the stalk was 

 superior, and gave a straw from i to <S inches higher than that on the check 

 area. In the case of Canadian Red Fife, the yield of grain was 3o^ bushels, as 

 compared with 25|^ on the check area, an improvement of nearly 40 per cent. 

 In the English variety the improvement was not so pronounced, being about 

 30 per cent. The produce of the electrified area sold in the market 7^^ per 

 ■cent, higher than the other, and the bakers reported it a better flour. 



Notwithstanding all the evidence in its favour, it is, perhaps, somewhat 

 early to accept electro-culture as a complete connnercial success : but more 

 than sufficient has been demonstrated to justify the matter being taken up 

 in Australia. With our abundance of sunlight it may not appeal to us as 

 strongly as to those in duller climates, but in one or other of its various 

 forms it is surely worthy of our serious attention. Already some attempts 

 have been made iv Australia, particulars of which are now given. 



