Io, ELECTRICITY IN AGRICULTURE 
the positive pole of a Holtz electric influence machine was 
going in 
I. From the points in the air to the soil. 
II. From the soil in the pot to the points, 
III. Without wires. 
The negative pole of the machine was conducted to earth. 
The pots were watered with water of the same temperature 
and of the same quantity in every pot. After certain 
intervals the plants were measured as to their height, and 
the leaves both as to breadth and length. 
A week passed. We could already see a remarkable 
difference. The plants in the compartments I. and II. 
developed. much more strongly and more rapidly than in 
III. The electrical machine was kept working five hours 
daily. The experiments were continued to June 24th, 
when the increase of vegetation in I. and IJ. under the 
influence of the electric current was estimated to be 40 per 
cent. beyond the result in III. As the soil in the six pots 
was exactly alike, the cause of the greater development 
must be sought in the electric current. 
The difference between I. and II. was barely perceptible, 
though the current in I. was + and in II. —.* No differ- 
Lege between +E and —E is shown in these experiments. 
hoe also p. 11 on this point). 
(2) In the summer of 1885, the first experiments were 
performed on a field. This was a small barley field on the 
farm of Mr. W. Lemstrém, in the parish of Vichtis, in the 
south of Finland. 
Though the external circumstances were unfavourable, 
dryness being prevalent, the results were very satisfactory, 
the part of the field under the electric current giving an 
increase of about 35°1 per cent. 
(3) In the summer of 1886, the experiments were 
executed on a garden field belonging to the Garden Society 
* + stands for positive current, - for negative current. 
+ That dryness would be unfavourable was not known at this time, but this 
will be seen later on. 
