NA rURE 



[August 6, 1908 



are supported by a few posts in long parallel spans, about 

 30 feet apart. One pole per acre is enough. The elec- 

 trified area was about iq acres. The wires are supported 

 on the posts by elaborate high-tension insulators, and they 

 extend over all the acreage under experiment, a control 

 plot of similar land under similar conditions being, of 

 course, left without any wires. 



The system of conductors is then connected at one 

 point with a generator supplying positive electricity at 

 a potential of something like a hundred thousand volts, 

 and with suffcient power to maintain a constant supply 

 of electricity at this Icind of potential. 



Lealoge immediately begins, and the cliarge fizzes off 

 from the wires with a sound which is sometimes audible, 

 and with a glow which is just visible in the dark. 

 Anyone walking about below the wires can sometimes 

 feel the effect on the hair of the head, as of a cobweb 

 on the face. They are then feeling the stimulating action 

 of the electrification. 



The electrification is maintained for some hours each 

 day, but is shut off at night ; it is probably only necessary 



Control. 



Ehctrifiid. 



Fig. 2. — Comparis:in of electrified wheat with wheat grown in the control 

 field under the same conditions, an average plant being taker, in each 

 case. Note the broader leaves and greater number of shoots of the 

 electrified wheat. 



to supply it during the early morning hours in summer- 

 time, and in spring-time or in cold cloudy weather for 

 the whole day. During bright sunshine it seems un- 

 necessary, and may even be harmful. But at what stages 

 of the growth of a plant the stimulus is most effective 

 has still to be made out ; probably the earlier it is begun 

 the better ; and since in the case of wheat both the ear 

 and the straw is valuable, the electrification should be 

 applied for a time each day during the whole period of 

 growth, except perhaps during drought. 



The power required to generate the electricity is very 

 small, for although the potential is high, the quantity is 

 insignificant, and the energy is accordingly comparatively 

 trivial. The electricity can be generated in more than 

 one_ way. It can be generated by a Wimshurst machine, 

 or it can be generated by transforming up to high tension, 

 and rectifying to one direction, the current of a dynamo. 

 The first is in many respects the simplest, and was used 



NO. 2023, VOL. 78] 



in the early and small-scale experiments, but it can hardiv 

 be regarded as an engineering method adapted to con- 

 tinuous or rough use. The latter is the one which in 

 the trials now to be described we have adopted. 



The power is generated by a two-horse oil engine 

 driving a small dynamo in an outhouse of the farm. 

 Thence the current is taken by ordinary overhead wires 

 to the field, where they enter a suitable weather-tight 

 hut, which contains the transforming and rectifying ap- 

 paratus. The only moving part here is the " break," and 

 if the original dynamo had been an alternator, even this 

 might be dispensed with. The transformer is a large in- 

 duction coil, specially made to stand continuous use, and 

 its current is then rectified by means of vacuum valves in 

 accordance with a patented device of my own. 



The negative electricity is conveyed direct to earth, 

 while high-tension electricity, all of positive sign, is led 

 by a specially insulated conductor out of the shed to the 

 nearest point of the overhead insulated wires, which are 

 thereby maintained at continuous high positive potential. 



The Results and Further Det.-^ils. 

 The following is a very brief summary of returns and 

 information supplied to me bv Mr. Newman and Mr. 

 Bomford, showing the results from the electrified as com- 

 pared with the control unelectrified plots. 



Summarised Results of the 1906 Experiments. 



Bushels of Wheat per Acre. 



{Estimated correspomiiiig increase in strau' not measured.) 



From the From the im- 

 elec'rified electrified Increaie 



plot plot 



Canadian (Red Fife) 35A ... 25^ ... 40 p. c. 



English (White Queen) ... 40 ... 31 ... 30 „ 



Moreover, the electrified wheat sold at prices some 7J 

 per cent, higher, several millers in baking tests finding 

 that it produced a better baking flour. 



The increase appears to be mainly duo to better stooling. 

 No marked difference was observable in the development 

 of ears. 



SuMM.\RisED Results of the 1907 Experiments on 

 Wheat. 



red fife, spring sown. 



Bushels per Acre (Head Wheat). 



Electrified 

 41-4 



Unelectrified 

 32 



Incr.-ase 

 29 p.C. 



Electrified wheat brighter, and a better sample. 



Increase again partly due to better stooling, but this 

 time there was better filling out of ears. 



These results are for wheat alone, but a good many 

 other crops were tried at the saine time. 



Hours of Running. 

 1906. 

 March 16 to July 10, inclusive, 621 J on 90 days. 

 Average electrical pressure corresponded to a |-in. spark. 

 Current shut off after ears in bloom. 



1907. 

 March 28 to July 27, 1014 hours on 115 days. 

 Average pressure corresponded to a half-inch spark. 

 Current kept on to harvest. 



Those interested in the experiments are much indebted 

 to the enthusiastic cooperation of Mr. Bomfurd. It may 

 be interesting to note that it was at a farm belonging 

 to Mr. Bomford 's father that the first steam ploughing 

 in England was done. 



Prof. Lemstrom is undoubtedly the pioneer in this sort 

 of work, though circuinstances connected with the natural 

 electrification of the atinosphere and with the discharge 

 of electricity from various surfaces have been pertinaciously 

 examined by Profs. Elster and Geitel. 



Oliver Lodge. 



