ELECTRO CULTURE. 279 



densed by capillarity, will combine in such proportions as to 

 form nitric acid through the agency of moisture and of neu- 

 tralizing bases, such as lime, magnesia, potash or soda." 

 (JUre). The condition of the soil is precisely analogous to 

 the artificial nitre beds, deducting their excess of manure 

 and calcareous matter. These exist to some extent in every 

 soil, and it is probable, under similar circumstances they will 

 produce an amount of nitric acid proportionate to their 

 own quantity, which in every case will be particularly felt 

 by the crops. We have the shade, moisture, and capillary 

 condition similar to those of the nitre beds, for the forma- 

 tion and condensing of the acid, which, in this instance, is 

 washed down into the soil by every successive rain, instead 

 of being carefully preserved, where formed, as is done by 

 the roofing of the beds. The question is one of sufficient 

 consequence to induce further trials, under such circumstan- 

 ces as will be likely to afford data for estimating the precise 

 force or influence of these several causes and conditions of 

 the soil. 



ELECTRO CULTURE. 



The application of electricity to growing plants is a sub- 

 ject which has occupied the attention of scientific men for 

 many years, and apparently without arriving at any bene- 

 ficial result. That it is capable of producing unusually 

 rapid growth when applied to vegetation, we have too 

 many examples to admit of any doubt. A stream of elec- 

 tricity from a galvanic battery, directed upon the seeds or 

 roots of plants under a favorable condition, has sometimes 

 produced an amount of vegetable development within a 

 few hours, which would have required as many days or 

 even weeks to produce, in the ordinary course of nature. 

 An egg has been hatched in one fourth the usual period of 

 incubation ; and every dairy maid is aware of the accel- 

 erated change in the milk, from the presence of a highly 

 electrical atmosphere. A thunder storm will sour milk in 

 two hours, that would otherwise have remained unchanged 

 for as many days. But after all the efforts hitherto made 

 to secure this agent for the advancement of the farmer's 

 operations, a careful review of the entire results obtained, 

 compels us to acknowledge, that no application of electricity 

 is yet developed, which entitles it to the consideration of 

 practical agriculturists. When we consider, however, the 

 power and almost universal presence and agency of elec- 



