Electricity applied to the growth of Plants. 158. 



2" Fluids contained in vegetables tissues possess a high 

 conducting energy as compared with the ordinary substan- 

 ces on the earth's surface. In confirmation of this, several 

 experiments were shown to prove the conducting energy of 

 Tegetable points. The fact was also stated that it was im- 

 possible to give an electric shock to more than one at each 

 extremity of a circle of persons standing on a grass plat. 

 This is easily done, when they are transferred to a gravel 

 walk. In the former instance, the current went across 

 the grass instead of being carried from one human body to 

 another. A Jar of ib' square inches of coated surface, was 

 discharged by a blade of grass in little more than four 

 nv'nutes, whereas it required three times that period to pro- 

 duce the same effect by means of a metal. ic needle. Proba- 

 bly the blade of grass had many points. 



Mr. Sidney then produced a drawing of Mr. Weeke's 

 Electroscu; e with vegetable points which he found to answer 

 better than any other artificial ones in the open air during 

 the passage of a cloud. 



3° There are indications of adaptation to electrical in- 

 fluences in the difference of form of various parts of plants 

 in the different stages of their development. Thus the 

 moistened germ of a vegetating seed becomes a good con- 

 ductor. The ascending and descending portions are, in tho 

 majority of instances, pointed. Plants designed for a rapid 

 growth have generally a strong pubescence; those destined 

 to meet the vaiiations of the seasons, have often thorns 

 or prickles. As surface becomes needed for other purpo- 

 ses, the pointed is changed into the expansive form of the 

 vegetable organ. As the period of fruiting, approaches, it 

 seems desirable that electricity should be earried off; hence 

 the hairs, «tc. fall off, or dry away. The apparent excep- 



