ELECTRICITY TO INCREASE CROP PRODUCTION. 
was affected with rust so badly that it could be picked out readily from 
the treated, which was seen, on very close examination, to be scarcely 
affected by the disease, though it was open to infection all the time. 
If electro-chemical treatment will produce rust resistance in wheat 
and other cereals, and possibly blight resistance in potatoes, &e., its 
importance can ‘scarcely be exaggerated—the increase in production 
and the saving of human labour would be almost incalculable. 
Dr. Brenchley reported that some pot experiments had been made 
over two years at Rothamstead, but that she found little difference 
between the plants at harvest time. Dr. Anderson stated, however, 
that, although results appeared identical, it had been found that in both 
years, when the grain was threshed And weighed, the results were very © 
different, as much as 25 to 30 per cent. in some cases. The question of 
the effect of various soils was not sufficiently known, and in one year the 
potatoes at Rothamstead were not good. The trials at. Wye for the 
AN EQUAL NUMBER OF CULMS AND HEADS OF WHEAT 
ELECTRIFIED AND UNELECTRIFIED. t 
year 1918 were reported by G. H. Garrad as a failure; but it appeared 
that the results from the treated seed for 1919 would be peut as the 
two sets were apparently level towards harvest time. 
It is admitted that the rationale of the process is not yet eee 
though many theories have been advanced, involving ionization, per- 
meability, osmotie pressure, sterilization, ke, Many details require 
working out, but there are sufficient practical results to justify imme- 
diate use of this method of electro-chemical treatment. 
C.62.—4, 33 
