$2 . BALECTRICITY IN AGRICULTURE 
The harvest of oats shows the singularity that the harvest 
of straw is the same on both fields, although there is an 
increase of crop of 16:0 per cent. For the other species 
of corn the increase of crop is accompanied more or less 
by an increase in straw. The explanation partly lies in 
the improvement of the crop which the electric air current 
had caused (the percentage of first quality on the experi- 
mental field exceeding that on the control field by 8°6%, 
and also the weight of 1,000 grains on the former field 
over that of 1,000 grains on the latter by 0'75 g.); but this 
does not seem sufficient to explain the above-mentioned 
singularity. We must therefore suppose. that the number 
of grains of oats on each straw has been greater on the 
experimental field. A fault in the drainage of this field 
was observed during the summer, which had reduced the 
fertility of the field, and thus a falling off of the increase 
per cent. 
Meslin. 
This consisted of barley and oats, and occupied the 
greatest part of the field, or 2°52 hectares (=5'06 acres). 
It was observed that the net over this field became from 
time to time in contact with the plants, and had to be 
carefully looked after in this respect. During these inter- 
ruptions the current was stopped ; thus the current acted 
for a shorter time on this field. Another cause of the 
shortening of time was that the net was twice destroyed 
by straying horses. On the first occasion the damage was 
repaired in nine days, so that the current was not opera- 
ting upon this field from May 31st to June 11th (in all 
twelve days, of which three days was from another cause). 
The second time there was no current from June 29th. to 
July 1st. 
For the meslin there were two experimental fields and ' 
two control fields, of the same size and quality as for. 
