Electro-Culture. 415 



ment, amongst whom the Dutch Tulip growers, in giving richness of 

 colour to the flower, &c, should not be omitted. 



Your readers will forgive me if I again recite my distinct experi- 

 ment made last year on the Eastern eight-pole plot. It was electro- 

 cultured with poles 4 feet high ; when the Barley was 6 inches high 

 it was very decidedly of a darker green colour than the surrounding 

 Barley. On reaching a foot in height it lost this deeper colour, as 

 its points collected all the electricity within the reach of the sus- 

 pended wire's power of attraction ; and the colour was partially, but 

 equally clearly restored to it by two suspended wires, and more lofty 

 poles being adjusted. This fact was to me the most conclusive of 

 all, and many persons saw it beside myself. 



If I add the evident benefit effected by electricity this year on six 

 plots of one- third and one-fourth of an acre each, in the front and back 

 lawns of this house, which any person may see, and any " mortal" 

 has the power of equalling ; if he possesses also the necessary com- 

 mand of ground, seed, and firmness of purpose, the matter may safely 

 be left to the discerning agriculturist. 



Lastly, as to the proper height of the poles, or rather of the lowest 

 suspended wire, where more than one is employed. The rule is to 

 have the lowest wire fully 6 to 8 feet above the highest probable 

 altitude of the vegetable under experiment, when at its full growth ; 

 and if more than one wire is required for wider or larger plots, there 

 ought to be a space of 3 feet in elevation between them. The reason 

 for these proportions depends on the relative attractive powers for 

 the electric fluid that many electricians have proved to exist between 

 the points of plants, and points or edges of metals ; the former being 

 three to four times more powerful than the latter. And the pre- 

 ference given for one line of wires arises from the convenience of 

 being then enabled to harrow and plough without removing any of 

 the arrangement and of having far larger areas in one plot. This 

 removes the doubt expressed by your correspondent " Beta" as to it 

 being most likely that electro -culturing will only be found possible 

 in narrow plots. As to using the fluid obtained from zinc, copper, &c. 

 in agriculture, the expense alone would suggest their inappro- 

 priateness. 



3 H 



