188 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



(Extract from Mass. Agl. College bulletin by Prof. C. D. Warner.) 



"Extensive experiments in electro-culture were also made at Pskoo, 

 Russia. Plots of earth were sown to rye, corn, oats, barley, peas, clover 

 and flax; around these respective plots were placed insulating rods, on 

 the top of which were crown-shaped collectors, the latter connected by 

 means of wires. Atmospheric electricity was thus collected about the 

 seeds and the latter matured in a highly electrified atmosphere. The 

 plots were submitted to identical conditions, and the experiments were 

 carried on for five j^ears. The results showed a considerable increase in 

 the yield of seed and straw, the ripening was more rapid, and the barley 

 ripened nearly two weeks earlier with electro-culture. Potatoes grown by 

 the latter method were seldom diseased, only to 5 per cent, against 10 to 

 40 per cent, by ordinary culture." 



Macagno, also, believing that the passage of electricity from air 

 through the vines to the earth would stimulate growth, selected a certain 

 number of vines, all of the same variety and all in the same condition of 

 health and development. Sixteen vines were submitted to the experi- 

 ment and sixteen were left to natural influences. In the ends of the 

 vines under treatment, pointed platinum wires were inserted, to which 

 were attached copper wires leading to the tops of tall poles near the 

 vines; at the base of these same vines other platinum wires were inserted 

 and connected by copper wires vs^ith the soil. At the close of the experi- 

 ment, which began April 15 and lasted till September 16, the wood, leaves 

 and fruit of both sets of vines were submitted to a careful analysis, which 

 showed that the percentage of moisture and sugar was greater and the un- 

 desirable acid lower in those vines subject to electrical influences than in 

 those left to natural conditions. 



The following experiments were made in 1891 at the Massachusetts ex- 

 periment station: Several plots were prepared in the greenhouse, all of 

 which had the same kind of soil and were subjected to like influences and 

 conditions. A large number of the copper wires were strung through 

 each of two plots and covered with soil to a little depth, so the roots 

 would come in contact with them. Two electric gardens were thus pre- 

 pared and each furnished with two common battery cells, so arranged as 

 to allow continuous currents to pass through each series of wires. Near 

 each electric garden was a plot prepared in the same manner, save the 

 electric apparatus. 



The place chosen for the experiments was in a part of the greenhouse 

 which was given up largely to the raising of lettuce, and the gardens were 

 located where much trouble from mildew had been experienced. The 

 reason for this choice of location was to notice the effect, if any, of elec- 

 tricity upon mildew, this disease being, as is well known, a source of much 

 trouble to those who grow early lettuce. The largest heads were over 

 the greatest number of wires and nearest the electrodes. It was further 

 noticed that the healthiest and largest plants, as soon as the current 

 became feeble or ceased altogether, began to be affected with mildew. 

 On examining the roots of the plants it was found that they had grown 

 about the wires, as if there they found their greatest amount of nourish- 

 ment; the roots were healthy and in no way appeared to have been in- 

 jured by the current, but, rather, much benefited by the electrical influ- 

 ences. 



