Action of Electric Currents upon the Growth of Seeds and Plants

Abstract

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT No. 845. 13505 of ms viva which the sun pours out yearly upon every acre of the earth's surface, chiefly in the form of heat, is 800,000 horse power. * Of this mighty supply of en ergy, a flourishing crop utilizes only 3,200 horsepower, so that the energy wasted per acre of land is 796,800 horse power. We talk loudly of the importance of utilizing the refuse of our manufactures; but what is the value of alkali waste, of furnace slags, of coal tar, or of all of them together, compared to the loss of 796,800 horse power per acre?

Effects of various electrical fields on seed germination

“…Leicester (40) used this method to treat various kinds of seeds. He buried a 1-foot-square zinc electrode at one end of a 3 by 2-1/2 foot box of soil and a similar copper electrode at the opposite end.…”

A study of the effect of electric current on certain crop plants

“…Leicester (25) used flats of soil three feet long and equipped a number of them with lihe copper zinc combination.…”

“…The dally treatments were 'begxm on February 25 -63gun to fill the flats were moved to the middle of the house and the heads covered with mosquito netting. Treatment was continued in this location* Some simtted plants appeared in all flats and these were removed, dried, and the wei^its in cluded in the total yields.…”

Effects of various electrical fields on seed germination

“…He found that seeds in the boxes containing the electrodes germinated and emerged "very much quicker" than those in the untreated boxes. In other experiments Leicester (41) This process consisted essentially of placing seeds in a wooden tank filled with a weak salt (usually sodium chloride) solution. Iron plates were placed in each end of the tank and direct current electricity was passed through the salt water and seeds.…”