oTic KlUiRAL >?«EW-it'0 R K E R 
1333 
RURALISMS 
Effect of ESectricity on Plant Growth] 
For more thau one himdred and fifty 
years investigations have been carried on 
regarding the influence of electricity on 
plant growth. Varying results have been 
obtained hv careful investigators, and in 
the Missouri Botanical Garden de¬ 
cided to test an “electrifier' secured from' 
France. The results obtained during 
three vears’ tests are given in the October 
issue of the Garden’s Bulletin. The ap- 
liaratus used, which is patented, consists 
of a so-called “electrifier'’ constructed of 
bronze with five prongs of pure nickel, 
non-rnstible and infusible, a copper wire 
attached to the bottom of the bronze part, 
a pole 15-115 feet long, a switch, a gal¬ 
vanized iron [uilley with an eye for 
fastening to the pole, a tarred rope for 
sliding the electrifier down to the base, 
and two porcelains for attaching the rope 
to the pole. The picture. Fig. f>30, is 
reprodiK-ed from the above bulletin. 
'fhe apparatvs was set up in the fol¬ 
lowing manner : The soil was removed to 
a depth of one and one-half feet, the 
radius of the plot being ecpial to the 
length of the pole; the pulley was af¬ 
fixed to the top of the pole, while the 
switch and the porcelains were placed 
near the base; the tarred rope was passed 
through the pulley in order to permit, of 
lowering the eleidrifiev to examine the 
lioints occasionally; the pole was then 
placed in the ground deep Ciiougli to be 
absolutely stable; one-eighth-inch galvan¬ 
ized iron wire was stretched every three 
feet at the base of the pole and connected 
with the copper wire attached to the elec- 
trifier; finally the soil was moved back 
over the wires, the plot being ready for 
jilanting. 
On May 18, 1910, the apparatus was 
set up, u.sing a 15-foot pole and plot .SO 
bv no feet which Avas divided into four 
parts. Tomatoes, string beans, sweet 
corn and Salvia splendens were planted 
in the individual .sections. Another plot 
no by no feet was selected and similar 
plants were used in the indiA'idual sec¬ 
tions. serving as a check. The soil was 
Avorked in a simiilar manner but no Avires 
AA-ere used. The experiments AVere tested 
for three A’ears, lOKi, 1917 and 1918, 
giving the following averages for the thre.e 
years, Avhich certainly shoAV some merit 
in the apparatus: 
TRKATArF.NT OF PLOT. EI.EC'l RIl'IEI). 
Average 
Urowth 
por 
riant. 
Average Xnmhor 
Pat(‘ of 
Crop 
(feet) 
of Frnit.s 
Maturity 
Tomato . 
. 1.T 
12 per plant 
.TnlylO 
Corn . . 
. 1.2 
2 per plant 
A11 g. 10 
Beans . , 
. 2.44 
14 lbs. per plot 
.Inly 5 
Salvia . 
. 20.9 
.Inly 10 
TRE.VTMENT OF PI.OT. XOX-ELECTRIFIEP. 
.Average 
lirowtli 
Crop 
Tomato 
Corn .. 
Beans . 
Salvia . 
per 
Plant. 
(feet) 
n 
10 
2.on 
14.1 
.Average Xiimber 
of Fruits 
7 p<*r plant 
2 per plant 
10 lbs. per plot 
Pate of 
Maturit.v 
.Tuly 22 
Aug. 20 
.Tulv 12 
.July 20 
Fig. 0n5, also reproduced from the 
Gardt'u’s bulletin, shows the effect of 
ele(*ti'icity on some of the hetins groAA’ii, 
as compared Avith check .plant at left. 
Winter Protection of Plants 
The October Bulletin of the Missouri 
Botanical Garden, discussing the above 
sub.iect. states that the chi**f function of 
a protectiA'e dressing is to lessen eytipora- 
tion. ami also to proAumt the heaving out 
of plants through alternate freezing and 
thaAving. The protection of trees and 
shrubs is usualfy a mulch four to six 
inches deep of well-rotted manure Oc¬ 
casionally newl.v-i>lanted large trees need 
protection oA'er Winter to acclimate tliem ; 
in this case they sliould be given a mulch 
at- the roots, Avhile the tops should be tied 
close to the main trunk, covered Avitli six; 
inches of hay or straAV, and finally tieiT 
Avith burlap. Where available, hemlock 
houghs may he used in place of straAA’' and 
burlap. 
IMauy Rhododendrons need Winter pro¬ 
tection! and they should always he rdanted 
AA'here protected from Avind and nid-dny 
sun. for these broad-leaved evergreens 
suffer severely from sunscald. An excel¬ 
lent metliod of Winter protection is to 
use a mulch of leaves 10 to 12 inches 
deep, additional shelter being provided, if 
necessary, by tall evergreen houghs stuck 
in the ground and bent over the tops of 
the plants 
In localities whore climbing roses suf¬ 
fer from Avinter-killing. the long canes 
should be laid doAvn, pegged to the 
ground, and coA'ored with a mulch of soil 
10 inches deep combined Avith a light 
layer of manure on top. mere mat of 
straAV placed around the canes on the 
trellis Avill be of little avail in seviwe 
Avoather. It is essential in coA’ering the 
vines that no portion he loft exposed, 
otherAvise the entire cane above the dead 
section Avill liavi* to he removed, nullify- 
iug the Avhole procedure. The tender 
n>ses should he i)rotected by hilling loose 
.soil around each plant to a dejith of six 
or eight inches and mulching the entire 
beds with a three to four-inch covering 
of well rotted. straAv.v manure. The Avood 
above the mulch Avill shrivel and die dur¬ 
ing Winter, but since the floAvers are 
borne upon new Avood in the Spring, no 
damage is done. The mulch should be 
put on just before continuous cold 
weather sets in and removed as soon as 
the ’sap begins to floAV in the Spring. 
Failure to remove the mulch in the Spring 
Avill cause a spindly growth which may be 
killed back by late frosts. Small beds 
may he covered by jilacing a Avooden 
frame around the bed and stuffing it Avith 
straw or hay. Boxes, barrels and other 
contrivance" may be n.sed. providing care 
is taken to avoid smothering plants or al- 
loAAfing Avater to stand at the roots. 
In loose sandy soils the herbaceous per¬ 
ennials need but little protection besides 
tlieir natural covering of dead branches 
and leaves. IIoAvever, a light mulch two 
to three inches deep placed over perennial 
beds after the ground has frozen is bene- 
fifial. particularly in heavy soils Avhere 
heaving is liable to take place. Too heavy 
a covering has a tendmicy to rot the 
croAviis of such biennials as Digitalis, 
Camiiannla, etc., and a lieavy snoAvfall 
Avithout ttuy mulch is usually the best pro- 
CJonirnat in Qroirih of Untreated and 
FAcctrified Plants. Fig. 6S5 
tectlon. Young herbaceous perennials j 
aiid pansies are best Avintered over in ; 
cold-frames. The plants should be al- ; 
lowed to freeze and straAV mats then be 
placed over the frames. Sufficient light 
and ventilation should he afforded tu pre¬ 
vent the plants from rotting, hut not 
enough to thaAV them out, and early in 
tlie Spring the mats should he removed. 
Cutting Out Poplar Trees 
Some poplar trees on my lawn give too 
much shade, and I wish to remove part of 
the trees. Is it necessary to have the i 
roots dug out after trees are chopped 
down, or Avill they rot in the ground? 
Help is so scarce here that I Avaut to ro- 
mo\-e them in the easiest way. 
(,’ohoes, N. Y. MRS. AV. c. h. 
If the trees are Carolina poplars, and 
they are cut slightly below the surface 
and graded over, there Avill be no trouble. 
If cut above the surface and the stumTis 
left standing, it is probable that a vig- 
erous crop of sprouts (pollard.s) will 
The ^‘Electrifier” for Garden Use. 
Fig. (536 
appear near the periphery of the stump. 
If they are of the variety commonly 
called Balm of Gilead, there are, even 
now, numerous little nodes, or “knees,” 
appearing above the surface, at various 
places on the lawn. If the trees are cut, 
sprouts will appear from these next sea¬ 
son, but the.v can easily be removed by 
cutting and removing the knee.s. If of 
other varieties of poplar there will be lit¬ 
tle or no trouble. For removing from the 
lawn, the soil should be removed suffi¬ 
ciently to expose the roots, and the tree 
cut .iust beloAV the surface. Then the 
soil should be replaced and a feAV shovel¬ 
fuls added if necessary to restore the 
grade. Thus cutting will require a little 
more time thau to cut a foot from the 
ground, but the ’"’verage of the tree will 
enable one to remove the stump in one- 
tenth the time that it could be removed 
at tAvo operations. c. o. ormsbee. 
Mrs, P.arker : “ ’Ave you taken a con¬ 
stitutional. Granny?” Old Lady (Avho 
has a' confirmed habit of appropriating 
other people's property) : “You mind yer 
OAvn business; I ain’t taken nothing be¬ 
longing to you.”— London Tatler. 
exisv:. 
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