258 THE SCIENTIFIC PAPERS OF 



1881) under the night action of one of the electric lights, set 

 behind glass at a distance not exceeding two yards from the 

 plant. The result was a bunch of fruit weighing 75 lb., each 

 banana being of unusual size, and pronounced by competent 

 judges to be unsurpassed in flavour. 



Melons also remarkable for size and aromatic flavour have been 

 produced under the influence of continuous light in the early 

 spring of 1880 and 1881, and I am confident that still better 

 results may be realised when the best conditions of temperature 

 and of proximity to the electric light have been thoroughly 

 investigated. 



My object hitherto has rather been to ascertain the general 

 conditions necessary to promote growth by the aid of electric 

 light than the production of quantitative results ; but I am 

 disposed to think that the time is not far distant when the 

 electric light will be found a valuable adjunct to the means at 

 the disposal of the horticulturist in making him really inde- 

 pendent of climate and season, and furnishing him with a power 

 of producing new varieties. 



Before electro-horticulture can be entertained as a practical 

 process it would be necessary, however, to prove its cost, and my 

 experiments of last winter have been in part directed towards 

 that object. Where water-power is available the electric light can 

 be produced at an extremely moderate cost, comprising carbon 

 electrodes, and wear and tear of and interest upon apparatus and 

 machinery employed, which experience elsewhere has already 

 shown to amount to Gel. per hour for a light of 5000 candles. 

 The personal current attention requisite in that case consists 

 simply in replacing the carbon electrodes every six or eight hours, 

 which can be done without appreciable expense by the under- 

 gardener in charge of the fires of the greenhouses. 



In my case no natural source of power was available, and a 

 steam engine had to be resorted to. The engine, of 6 nominal 

 horse-power, which I employ to work the two electric lights of 

 5000 candle-power each, consumes 56 lb. of coal per hour (the 

 engine being of the ordinary high-pressure type), which, taken at 

 20s. a ton, would amount to 6d. ; or to 3d. per light of 5000 

 candles. But against this expenditure has to be placed the saving 

 of fuel effected in suppressing the stoves for heating the green- 



