Developing Plants by Electricity.

Otago Witness, Issue 2013, 22 September 1892, Page 5

Developing Plants by Electricity.

The employment of electricity in horticulture forms an interesting subject for experiment and investigation, and results have already been obtained that justify the hope that the idea may soon be turned' to practical account on a scale of coufiderable magnitude. Spring vegetables have already been forced by its aid for market, and there is no doubt that roses and other flowers can be made to bloom more plentifully and more profitably with its assistance. The Department of Agriculture at Washington has been experimenting in this direction for some time past. It has been fou&d 4hat lettuce is particularly susceptible to the influence of the electric light, by means of which, it is said, it can be grown for market in two-thirds the usual length of time. . Other vegetables respond likewise in varying degrees. But every thing depends upon the proper regulation of the light, and how to-do this can only be learned by careful study of the results produced under all sorts of conditions. The effect of electricity being to hasten maturity, too much of it causes lettuce to run to seed before the edible leaves are formed. Electricity is not employed for such purposes as a substitute for sunlight. It is merely used in a supplementary fashion. The greenhouse that has the sun in the daytime is illuminated at night with arc lights, toward which the plants incline their leaves and flowers. It has been supposed hitherto that vegetables required intervals of, 'darkness for their health and development, just as animals need sleep, but it has been shown, that, supplied with electric rays, they will go on growing thriftily between sunset.anddaybreak. The electric gardener usually employs opal globes" to diminish the intensity of the light. When the lamp is left .bare and permitted to shed its unshielded rays upon the_ plants the latter grow pale, run up quickly in sickly stalks and soon die. It remains to be discovered exactly how much light is beneficial, and during precisely what period of development of the vegetables it ought to be applied. The influence of the light upon the colour and productiveness of flowers has been shown to be extraordinary. Tulips exposed to it have deeper and richer tints, flowering more freely and developing longer- stems and bigger leaves. Fuchsias bloom earlier under like conditions. Petunias also bloom.eariier and more profusely, crowing tailor and more slender. It iB the same way with many other flowers. In fact, there is evecj reason for believing that the electric light will be very profitably used in future as an adjunct to forcing establishments for both flowers and garden vegetables. Already onjs market gardener in New Jersey is employing it with a success which he reports as marvellous. —Western Electrician.