I 



Light in Greenhouse Culture 67 



Effect of Electric Light 



It has always been a question whether growth 

 under hothouse conditions 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 espe- 

 cially marked for the Grand Rapids variety first, 

 next for the Hanson and thirdly for the Tennis 

 Ball, the only three varieties experimented on by 

 Rane. The lettuce in the house lighted 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 lighted 

 house matured about twelve days earlier than that 

 grown otherwise. Greenhouse spinach, like lettuce, 

 seems also to be benefited by electric light at night. 

 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 

 night 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 large 



*Rane, F. W., West Virginia Agr. Expt Sta. Bui. 37, Vol. 4, 

 No. i: 3-27, 1894. 



