Light in Greenhouse Culture 67 

 Effect of Electric Light 



It has always been a questitwi whether growth 

 under hothouse conditi(His could not be hastened by 

 using artificial light at night. The work of Rane* 

 has shown that such is the case. 



The beneficial effect on lettuce seems to be cspe- 

 dally marked for the Grand Rapids variety first, 

 next for the Hansc«i and thirdly for the Tennis 

 Ball, the only three varieties experimented on by 

 Rane. The lettuce in the house lifted with elec- 

 tricity seemed more erect, vigorous, and the soil 

 freer from damping off and rot-producing organ- 

 isms. This is indeed an important consideration. 

 Moreover, the lettuce in the electrically lifted 

 house matured about twelve days earlier than that 

 grown otherwise. Greenhouse spinach, like lettuce, 

 seems also to be benefited by electric light at ni^t. 

 On the other hand, cauliflower reacts poorly to this 

 treatment. Although the plants are taller, the qual- 

 ity of the head is of an inferior grade. Radishes 

 develop more tops than roots. The practical- 

 minded greenhouse man will use electric light at 

 ni^t to induce extra stimulation for those green- 

 house crops that respond favorably to it. The cost 

 of installing the system certainly cannot be consid- 

 ered as a real drawback. Electricity in these days 

 may be obtained at a reasonable price. This is es- 

 pecially true of greenhouses situated near larg^ 



•Rane, F. W, West Viig^a Agr. EipL Sta. Bui. 37, VoL 4, 

 No. i: 3-*7> 1894- 



