CHAPTER VI 



SOME SUGGESTIONS AND A GLIMPSE OF AN 

 ELECTRIC FARM OF THE FUTURE 



THE simplest and cheapest method of getting 

 electricity into the soil and to the roots of 

 plants is by the use of some form of the geomag- 

 netifer. In using this device we must be careful to 

 arrange it so that the atmospheric electricity will 

 come down the wire on the pole to the system of 

 wires in the soil, and not down the pole itself to the 

 earth immediately surrounding it. The pole may 

 be made a non-conductor by being coated with 

 resin, or it may be set into a non-conducting sub- 

 stance. As to the height of the pole, it should 

 reach far above the surrounding trees or other high 

 objects, or, better, the pole should be situated on 

 elevated plots of ground. We must learn more 

 about the relation of the area of soil beneficially 

 affected to the height of the pole. We also must try 

 to find out more about the nature of the soils most 

 responsive to the application of electricity, as well 

 as the varieties of plants most susceptible to its 

 influence. 



After the installation of a geomagnetifer, the 

 main cost will come from the replacing of the dis- 

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