INFLUENCE OF ELECTRIC LIGHT UPON VEGETATION. 57 
these water plants, still adhering to the stems. This bed from top to bottom is 
the richest field for the collector, and has furnished our cabinets with many splen- 
did specimens of Vautilus, Orthoceras, Gontatiles, Euomphatos, Allorisma, Pinna, 
Phillipsia —in fact, nearly everything that is usually found in the Upper Carbonif- 
erous of Missouri. It is particularly rich in Nautili, and some of the cabinets in 
our city contain magnificent specimens of a half a dozen different varieties, some 
not described or figured by any of our Paleontologists. In the different collections 
made in this city are to be found many fossils from our hills not named or de- 
scribed in any of the State Reports or books on this subject, and we believe it 
would well repay some good Paleontologist, like the late Prof. Meek, to visit this 
city and examine the fossils of this locality. 
We have arrived at the foot of the hill, but have glanced at ouly a few of the 
many objects of interest to be found as we strayed alonz. But, alas, these pleas- 
ant ‘‘rambles” are fast disappearing under the ‘‘ building hand of man.” Soon 
stately piles of brick and marble and busy streets will cover the places where we 
once held pleasant converse with nature, studied the pages of her book and pried 
into her secrets, and those who have a love for such things should improve the 
present opportunity to enjoy that most healthful and instructive of recreations—a 
ramble on the hills. 
(Zo be Continued.) 
‘THE CURIOUS INFLUENCE OF ELECTRIC LIGHT UPON 
VEGETATION. 
At the meeting of the Royal Society last evening (March 4th) Dr. C. W. Sie- 
mens, F. R. S., gave a detailed description of some experiments upon the above 
subject which have been conducted during the last two months at his house at 
Sherwood, and exhibited specimens. ‘The method pursued was to plant quick- 
growing seeds and plants, such as mustard, carrots, swedes, beans, cucumbers, 
and melons, in pots, and these pots were divided into four groups, one of which 
_was kept entirely in the dark, one was exposed to the electric light only, one to 
the influence of daylight only, and one to daylight and electric light in succession. 
The electric light was applied for six hours each evening—from 5 to 11—and the 
plants were then left in darkness during the remainder of the night. The general 
result was that the plants kept entirely in the dark soon died; those exposed to 
electric light only or to daylight only throve about equally; and those exposed to 
both day and electric light throve far better than either, the specimens of mustard 
and of carrots exhibited to the society showing this difference in a very remarka- 
ble way. 
x 
t 
ii 
° 
Dr. Siemens only considers himself as yet on the threshold of the investiga- 
tion, but thinks the experiments already made are sufficient to justify the following 
conclusions: 1. That electric light is efficacious in producing chlorophyl in the 
