work for years of experimentation. And then there 

 is the possibility that plants, in future generations, 

 may become accustomed to being partly fed by the 

 electric light, and partly by currents in the soil, and 

 may adapt themselves to the new conditions to the 

 increased profit of the horticulturist. 



While the vast majority of the experimenters have 

 reported results highly favorable to electro-horticul- 

 ture, yet, as we have before pointed out, there have 

 been a few who did not obtain the good results so 

 enthusiastically heralded by others; it may be that 

 in some localities of the earth's surface certain con- 

 ditions obtain which render such places more favor- 

 able ones for such experimentation than others. 



Experiments with earth-batteries may fail on ac- 

 count of the connecting wires above ground being 

 twisted around the projecting plates instead of being 

 soldered to them. In dealing with such feeble 

 currents, no more resistance should be opposed to 

 them than is absolutely necessary. And then the 

 soil may be unsuitable for sufficient chemical action 

 upon the zinc plate; possibly too scanty in proper 

 mineral matter, or too. dry, and hence unable to 

 generate a useful current. It is always well to test 

 the strength of the battery, and still more import- 

 ant to see if there is any current flowing, by means 

 of a sensitive galvanometer inserted in the wire 

 connecting the plates. 



The practical farmer will want to know if electric 

 farming will increase his profits before he thinks 

 seriously of adopting it. He may agree that it will 

 be more scientific, perhaps more interesting, and 



