ELECTRICITY AND VEGETATION. 
The theory of Electro-culture is of general application : it is either a fiction, a 
llacy, or it is founded upon natural phenomena, which can neither he controverted 
or disproved. 
1 When Dr. Forster announced his electrical experiments upon farm crops, he 
opeared to have acted upon the principle of an hypothesis advanced by M. Ampere, 
French philosopher, namely, that the magnetism of the earth was induced by a 
; mtinuous stream or current of electricity round the globe from east to west : he 
lerefore placed his long poles, and strained his receiving wires between their sum- 
lits, in a direction north and south, corresponding with that of the magnetic meri- 
ian. But we are not sure that such a current prevails, although the diurnal motion 
? the earth from west to east might appear to sanction the idea ; and therefore Mr. 
turgeon (in the last section of his Electrical Essay, to which we referred last month,) 
roposes a new modification of apparatus founded upon the prevailing currents of 
le wind. 
“ Since then,” he says, “ there is no reason to believe that a continuous electric 
de in the air sweeps the surface of the land from east to west, nor any means at 
or disposal to confine electric influences within the limits of a marginal wire in the 
round ; there is no authority from facts for making choice of the magnetic meridian, 
or ought it to be expected that any gain is to be derived by bordering a plot of land 
ith those that are underground. The prevailing winds in most parts of Great 
ritain are easterly in the spring, and westerly during most parts of the summer ; 
lerefore a wire is stretched in a N.E. and S.W. direction, and another, beneath or 
Jove, crossing it at right angles near the middle” (see the 
gure). Mr. Sturgeon uses the words “ pairs of wires,” 
at it is evident that one wire across each pair of poles , 
3 what he intended to express. 
The wires ought to be copper, because that metal is 
better conductor, and is not so liable as iron to be 
irroded and oxidised. The poles should be elevated far 
bove the influence of the plants which it is intended to 
mite, and they should also be remote from tall trees, 
he very mention of the latter, as excellent natural conductors, is sufficient to 
ibstantiate the theory of vegetable attractive power. 
It is not unlikely that where it is the object of the gardener to excite oblong or 
’ r al beds of plants, he would prefer the system of underground wires passing around 
te plot, and connected with the upper supplying wire by others descending by the 
lies, and fastened to those within the soil. But according to the improved modifi- 
ition by Mr. Sturgeon, “ the principal wires at the bottom of the system, which 
VOL. XIII. — no. CLI. 
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