Ch1- Electro Horticulture (1898) by George S. Hull

The historical applications of electricity in horticulture, tracing back to the mid-18th century....

Key Topics Covered:

Early Experiments (1746-1780s):

*This chapter establishes that the use of electricity in horticulture predates the dynamo and even Franklin's (so-call) famous kite experiment. It highlights Von Mambre's initial experiments in 1746 using static electricity on myrtle trees and yielding favorable results. These early experiments focused on passing electricity, generated by friction, through the base of plants into the soil.

*Discusses Abbot Bertholon's enthusiastic advocacy for electricity in plant culture in the 1780s. He wrote a book on the subject ( and one that's hard to find) detailing his experiments and describing devices for delivering electricity to plants. Two devices are mentioned: an insulated rod to draw atmospheric electricity and pass it through plants, and an experiment involving corn planted under bell jars, one electrified and the other not.

*Conflicting Results and Skepticism: There's acknowledgment that not all experiments yielded positive results. Ingenhouss, a respected figure in vegetable physiology, expressed skepticism about the beneficial effects of electricity on plant growth, which dampened the enthusiasm of some experimenters.


Lemstrom's Research in Polar Regions:

*Rapid plant growth and vibrant flowers observed in the polar regions gets attributed to the abundance of atmospheric electricity (Aurora Borealis). He conducted experiments using Holtz machines to deliver electricity to plants, finding a significant growth advantage in treated plants.

Large-Scale Field Experiments:

*The book describes larger field experiments conducted in 1885, where a system of wires and Holtz machines was used to electrify a barley field. The result was a one-third increase in crop yield in the electrified area.

Varied Effects on Different Plants:

*Lemstrom's notes that wheat, rye, barley, oats, peas, parsley, potatoes, radishes, strawberries, beans, kidney beans, and raspberries benefited from electric treatment, but carrots, turnips, cabbages, and tobacco were negatively affected.

Reasons for Inconsistent Results:

*Likely due to variations in experimental conditions, such as location, time of day, and duration of current application.


Relevant Context or Insights:

The book provides historical context for the use of electricity in horticulture, demonstrating that the idea is not new.
It highlights the challenges of early experimentation due to "crude" equipment and varying environmental conditions.
It reveals that the effects of electricity on plant growth are not universal and can vary depending on the type of plant .

Note-Worthy Quotes:

"Electricity exerted a favorable influence upon vegetation." - early experimenters
"Atmospheric electricity was more abundant in the polar regions than elsewhere." - Mr. Selin Lemstrom
"The crop was increased 1/3rd in the electrified part of the field." -Describing results from the 1885 field experiment