13 



not under the influence of electricity ; the plants in both gardens 

 grew rapidly, but those in the electric bed developed a finer foliage 

 and blossomed from three to four days sooner than those in the non- 

 electric bed. The fruit was allowed to ripen and dry on the vines, 

 hence, the weight of the green product was not determined, the test, 

 principally, being to ascertain, (as before stated), whether or not the 

 delicate seedling would be injured by a strong electric current. Most 

 of the time the plants were subjected to a current of thirty-nine 

 amperes with a voltage of fifty-three and at no time were injurious 

 effects discovered, but rather, strong stimulating power was apparent. 



TOMATOES. 



Near the electric and uon electric gardens were a number of tomato 

 plants which had been set in the regular kitchen garden. The 

 fruit was green and quite well developed, when on August 3d, six 

 plants were selected in the row, of uniform size and of the same 

 variety — the Champion. It was desired in this case to determine 

 whether electricity hastened or retarded the ripening of the fruit and 

 three of the six plants chosen were provided with electricity in the 

 following manner : 



An insulated wire was placed on each side of these three plants ; 

 at intervals of one and one- half inches the insulation was cut away 

 and eight cross wires of copper were fastened to the laterals as seen 

 in the figure. 



P P P. ' • 



B 



Note.— A and B, termiuals. P P P, cross wires placed among the roots of the plants. 



These eight non-insulated wires were placed among the roots of 

 the plants to be tested and when finally placed in position were three 

 inches below the surface of the ground. A current of thirty-nine 

 amperes was used throughout this experiment. Particular tomatoes 

 on each plant were carefully watched and when the fruit began to 



