392 THE NEW GARDENING 



rarefied atmosphere, with the terrestrial negative elec- 

 tricity* 



Lemstrom made a series of electrical experiments in 

 order to try to reproduce the colours of the Aurora 

 Borealis, and as these Were conducted in his greenhouse 

 he had an opportunity of observing the effects on plants. 

 He saw that they were greatly stimulated, and the fact 

 seemed to confirm the truth of his observations on the 

 wild flora of Antarctica. 



It is unnecessary to record the minutiae of Lemstrom 's 

 experiments, and those who feel an interest in them may 

 learn what they desire to know from the book referred 

 to. We may, however, glance at the results of experi- 

 ments made in Great Britain with a view to testing the 

 results recorded by Lemstrom. The most important 

 of these were conducted by Mr. J. E. Newman, of Howard 

 Street, Gloucester, England, and Sir Oliver Lodge, at a 

 farm near Evesham. 



It was decided to experiment with electric discharges 

 into the atmosphere, consequently, wires were fixed on 

 poles about fifteen feet above ground. The poles were 

 put seventy yards asunder in parallel rows a hundred 

 yards apart, so that they averaged less than one to the 

 acre. Ordinary telegraph wire was fixed to the parallel 

 lines of poles, and finer wire was fixed across in parallel 

 lines twelve yards apart, thus forming right angles with 

 the main wires. 



In order to secure a steady and continuous discharge 

 it was necessary to charge the wires with a pressure of 

 100,000 volts from a dynamo with the aid of the in- 

 duction coil. The dynamo may be driven by a high- 

 speed oil engine. To prevent loss of electricity in transit 

 along the wires from the coil to the field, which would 

 certainly happen with the agent at so high a tension 



