CONDITIONS AFFECTING GROWTH 9 



the yield of beans and peas under the influence of 

 electricity was nearly doubled. The experiment 

 was made by a mechanical device of rods, suitably 

 connected with wires and buried in the ground, deep 

 enough so that tillage would not be interfered with. 

 C. Flammerion* experimented for a number of 

 years with varying results with beans planted 

 between copper and zinc plates, and buried in the 

 ground, and connected with a Leclanche cell. The 

 contradictory results were attributed to different 

 conditions of atmosphere, moisture and temperature. 

 In general he concludes that the current exercises 

 beneficial results in the stimulating of the growth of 

 beans. 



Copper sulphate effects. — A number of experi- 

 ments** were conducted to determine the effects of 

 copper sulphate on different plants. The sulphate 

 was applied to soil in plots for two years in succes- 

 sion at the rate of 40, 80 and 100 grams a square 

 metre of surface without injurious effects on fruit 

 trees and strawberries. However, considerable 

 injury resulted when like amounts were applied in 

 the field to bean plants. It should be remembered 

 that the deduction from this experiment in no way 

 argues against thorough spraying with Bordeaux to 

 prevent fungous diseases of the bean plant. Bor- 

 deaux as mixed for bean spraying results in an 

 almost infinitesimal amount of copper sulphate on 

 the individual bean leaves. 



Conditions affecting bean cooking. — K. de 

 \'ries*** tells us that the ease with which beans and 

 peas cook up, varies much according to the fertilizer 

 used for the crop. He finds that early sown peas or 



•France, 1902. 



**E S R, Vol 16, p 133. ""Deut Londw Presse, 38, iSOL 



