ELECTRICITY. . 187 



suggested the use of gigantic electro-static machines, but the attempts 

 were fruitless. The method most generally adopted in experiments con- 

 sisted of two metallic plates, one of copper and one of zinc, placed in 

 the soil and connected by wires. 



Shepard employed this method, and his experiments showed that elec- 

 tricty increased the returns from root crops, while grass perished near the 

 electrodes, and plants developed without the use of electricity were infer- 

 ior to those grown under its influence. Hubeck in 1847 came to the con- 

 clusion that seeds germinated more rapidly and buckwheat gave larger 

 returns when electrified; in all other cases the electric current produced 

 no result. After some years had elapsed Fichtner, in the same direction, 

 employed a battery, the two wires of which were placed in the soil, 

 parallel to each other. Between the wires were planted peas, grass and 

 barley, and in every case the crop showed an increase of from thirteen to 

 twenty-seven per cent., when compared with ordinary methods of culti- 

 vation. 



Fischer of Waldheim, believing atmospheric electricity to aid much in 

 the growth anddevelopmentof plants, made the following tests: He placed 

 metallic supports to the number of about sixty around each "hektare(2.47 

 acres)of loam ;" these supports were provided at their summit with electrical 

 accumulators in the form of crowns surmounted with teeth; the collect- 

 ors were united by metallic connection. The result of this culture ap- 

 plied to cereals was to increase the crop by half. 



The following experiment was also tried: Metallic plates, sixty-flve 

 centimeters (25.6 inches) by forty centimeters (15.7 inches) were placed in 

 the soil. These plates were alternately of zinc and copper, and placed 

 about 100 feet apart, connected two and two by a wire. The result was 

 to increase from twofold to fourfold the production of certain garden 

 plants. Mr. Fischer says that- it is evidently proved that electricity aids 

 in the most complete breaking up of the soil constituents. There can be 

 no doubt of the truth of this statement, but he goes on to say that plants 

 treated with electricity mature more quickly, are almost alioays perfectly 

 healthy and are not susceptible to injury l^y fungous diseases, which seems 

 to show that the electric current acts directly on the sprout itself, aside 

 from its action on the plant food in the soil. 



Some years later N. Specnew was led to investigate the influence of elec- 

 tricity on plants in every stage of their development; the results of his 

 experiments were most satisfactory. He began by submitting different 

 seeds to the action of an electric current and found that their devel- 

 opment was rendered more rapid and complete. The following tabl 



shows his results: 



Peas. Beans. Barley. Sunflowers 



Electrified seeds developed in 2.5 days. i^days. 2 days. 8.5 days" 



Non-electrified seeds developed in 4 days. 6 days. 5 days. 15 days. 



It was also observed that the plants coming from electrified seeds were 

 better developed, their leaves were much larger and their colors brighter 

 than those plants growing from non-electrified seeds; but the yield was 

 not affected. 



At the botanical garden at Kew, England, the following experiment was 

 tried: Wires were so arranged in the soil that an electric current passed 

 through the ground. This method was applied to pot herbs and flower- 

 ing plants and also to the growing of garden produce; in the latter case 

 the result was a large crop and the vegetables grown were of enormous 

 size. 



