ELECTROCULTXRE , 



Experiments in 1917. — Wheat was again -own in section E in 

 October. 1916, and allowed to mature the following summer without 

 treatment, as an additional check on the soil conditions. At time of 

 harvest in 1917 the plats were again cut into eastern and western 



halves, the south plat being the one which had received the elec- 

 trical treatment in previous year-. The yields are shown in Table 5. 

 Comparison with the rye yields of 1913 shows that the south 

 (treated) plat apparently gained slightly in its relative productivity 

 during the five years, but the change is well within the errors of field 

 trials. 



Table o. — Yields of winter wheal on plats without electrocultural treat/' 

 section E, Arlington Experiment Farm, in 1-917 



pounds) 



Plat 



Shock 



Grain 



Eastern half: 



South plat 1.628.0 580.5 



North plat 1, 62510 631. 



Western half: 



South plat. 1, 562. 5 



North plat 1,439.5 



Total: 



South plat ._ 3,190.5 1.137.5 



North plat 3,0' I 



Ratio of south to 

 north plats 



Shock Grain 





567. 



1.04 



0.92 



.95 



Experiments in 1918. — In the fall of 1917 winter wheat (Currell 

 was sown on the plats in section E. and in the spring a J^-inch mesh 

 galvanized-iron screen 132 feet long by 15 feet high was erected 20 

 feet south of the check plat. It was thought that the grounded 

 screen might protect the north plat from the drifting charge, but 

 later measurements show that it is of doubtful value. 



The static machine was again used, with the positive pole con- 

 nected to the network. The number of cross wire- was increased 

 to one every 3 feet. This increased the current and reduced the 

 potential of the network to about 30.000 volts. 



Although the winter was exceptionally cold the stand in the spring 

 was excellent. Treatment was started April 15 and continued for 

 46 days from 4 p. m. to 8 a. m. each day. a total of 736 hour-. 



At harvest the eastern and western halve- < f each plat were kept 

 separate and weighed. The yields are shown in Table 6. 



Table 6. — Yields of winter wheal on plats following electrocultural treatment 

 live charge), section E, Arlington Experiment Farm, in 1918 



. Plat 



Yields (pound*) *»«£g* 





Shock 



Grain 



- 



Grain 



Eastern half: 



Treated 



Control 



Western half: 



Treated.... 



Control 



Total: 



Treated : 



Control 



1,531 



- 



569 



! - 



• 

 507 



1,050 



} 1. lfi 



} .99 



} « 



1.10 

 1. 02 









