Magical Growth of Plants.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXVII, Issue 1373, 20 August 1895, Page 3

Magical Growth of Plants.

A French scientist, M. Bagonneau, has just discovered how to make a plant grow from the seed in thirty minutes as much as it would in as many days. Heretofore Nature has shared this secret with the Yoghis of India alone, and the methods pursued by these clever magicians in performing this trick have been often described. They plant a seed in the earth and cover it with a cloth. In a few moments the cloth begins to be pushed upward by the growing plant, which in a short time attains the height of several feet. Various theories have been advanced as to the modus operandi of this miracle, one of the latter being that the spectators are all hypnotised. During his travels in India M. Kaggoueau saw this trick performed frequently, and noticed that the Hindoos always imbedded the seed in the soil which they brought with them especially lor that purpose. At last he learned that they obtained this earth from ant hills. Now, as everyone knows who has inadvertently eaten one of these industrious insects, ants contain a large proportion of formic acid, with which in time the soil near Ant hills becomes charged. The acid has the power ot quickly dissolving the integument surrounding a seed and of greatly stimulating the growth of the germ within. After a little experimenting with this acid the learned Frenchman was able to duplicate perlectly the Hindoo trick. His further researches have led him to believe that this dicovery may be profitably applied to agriculture. By infusing ants iu boiling water acid as strong as vinegar may obtained. M. Kagoneau has achieved the best results and most perfect growth by using earth moistened with a solution of 5,000 parts of water to one of acid.— New York World.