ELECTRICAL EXPERIMENTS 393 



unless measures were taken to prevent it, extra large 

 insulators are required. 



The electricity discharges into the atmosphere all over 

 the wired parts of the field or garden in a constant 

 stream, and its presence may be proved by means of a 

 test wire. 



Further experiments were made in 1911 under the 

 direction of Miss E. C. Dudgeon, the crop being a field of 

 Potatoes at Lincluden Mains, Dumfries, Scotland. Four 

 varieties were planted, namely : Golden Wonder, Great 

 Scot, Ringleader and Windsor Castle, and the electric 

 discharge was applied daily from May ist to August i8th, 

 averaging four hours per day, or a total of 413 hours. 



An ordinary or " control " plot was planted in each 

 case for comparison with the experimental plot. Right 

 from the start a difference was observable between those 

 treated with electricity and those given ordinary cultiva- 

 tion. The haulm and foliage of the electrified plots were 

 stronger, and the tubers were ready for lifting a week 

 earlier. There was, however, more disease in them. The 

 following are the total weights lifted in each case : 



Variety. Electrified Plot. Control Plot. 



Ringleader . .. 8 tons i cwt. 5 tons 17 cwt. 



Golden Wonder 8 14 8 2 



Windsor Castle . n 14 9 17 



Great Scot . . n 15 10 6 



Total diseased 4 cwt. 6 Ib. 2 cwt. 2 qrs. 24 Ib. 



The following shows the extra yield per acre under 

 electricity : 



Variety. Tons. cwt. qrs. Ib. 



Ringleader ... 2 4 o o 



Windsor Castle . . i 16 3 19 



Golden Wonder . . - 12 o 12 



Great Scot . . . i 9 2 20 



