ELECTRO-CULTURE. 223 



controlled by them; it keeps its state sacred from 

 human search, the invisible hidden behind the veil of 

 mortality. 



During changes in the electrical conditions of the 

 earth and atmosphere, vegetables give indications of 

 being in a peculiar manner influenced by this power. 

 It is proved by experiments that the leaves of plants 

 are among the best conductors of electricity, and it 

 has hence been inferred that it must necessarily be 

 advantageous to vegetation. That vegetable growth 

 is, equally with animal growth, subject to electricity, 

 as one of its quickening powers, must be admitted; 

 but all experiments which have been fairly tried with 

 the view of stimulating the growth of plants by its 

 agency, have given results of a negative character.* 

 That a galvanic arrangement may produce chemical 

 changes in the soil, which may be advantageous to the 

 plant, is probable ; but that a plant can be brought to 

 maturity sooner, or be made to develope itself more 

 completely, under the direct action of electrical exci- 

 tation, appears to be one of those dreams of science 

 which will have a place amongst the marvels of alchemy 

 and the fictions of astrology. An attentive examination 

 of all the conditions necessary for the satisfactory de- 

 velopment of the plant, will render it evident, that 

 although the ordinary electrical state of the earth and 

 atmosphere must influence the processes of germination 

 and vegetable growth, yet that any additional excitement 

 must be destructive to them. The wonders wrought by 

 electrical power are marvellous; a magic influence is 



* Observations of Electric Currents in Vegetable Structures : by 

 Golding Bird, Esq., F.L.S.; Magazine of Natural History, vol. x. 

 p. 240. In this paper Dr. Bird remarks that his experiments lead 

 to the conclusion that vegetables cannot become so charged with, 

 electricity as to afford a spark ; that electrical currents of feeble 

 tension are always circulating in vegetable tissues; and that elec- 

 trical currents are developed during germination from chemical 

 action. 



