u 



turn red, those subjected to electricity invariably ripened three or 

 four days earlier than those growing in the natural way. 



A similar experiment was tried some time since by others with the 

 same result. The question whether or not electricity would develop 

 a stronger growth of vines and fruit if applied from the time of 

 setting out the plants, cannot be answered at this writing, but basing 

 our opinion on results gained in growing other vegetables with 

 electricity, we believe it safe to affirm that tomatoes, like any other 

 plants, would be materially benefited, the effect being to produce a 

 stronger growth of vines and larger fruit if submitted to the electrical 

 influence from the very first. However, this conclusion must not be 

 too hastily accepted as true, for direct experiment alone can settle 

 the question. 



CONCLUSION. 



From the summary of results recorded in the foregoing pages the 

 following may be gathered : 



(a) That when subjected to electrical influences some varieties of 



seeds germinate more quickly and certain plants blossom 

 sooner ; 



(b) That some kinds of vegetables have a tendency to enlarge 



their roots, while others grow a large amount of tops ; 



(c) That plants standing near the electrodes develop a larger 



growth of roots and foliage ; 



(d) That tomatoes ripen sooner ; 



(e) That the vegetables experimented with were not at all injured 



by a current of thirty-nine amperes with a voltage of 

 fifty-three, but rather were stimulated in growth. 

 Furthermore, we would add, that growing vegetables by electricity 

 can hardly be considered practical. The experiments referred to with 

 tall poles crowned with teeth for collecting the electricity of the 

 atmosphere, or where copper and zinc plates were used, cost very 

 little as compared with the expense of growing plants with the aid of 

 electric currents generated by batteries or dynamos. Tlie method of 

 collecting and using atmospheric electricity might be employed with 

 a possibility of the f aimer being well paid by an increased growth of 

 cereals and some varieties of vegetables; but when batteries and 

 dynamos are employed, the cost of instruments, wires, increased 

 amount of labor,resultingfrom a net-work of lines, in addition to the 



