ELECTROCULTURE OF PLANTS, the employment of electric light in agri culture and horticulture. It was determined at the Agricultural Experiment Stations of Cornell University and of West Virginia, in experiments made with the arc and the incandescent lights, respectively, that cer tain crops are forwarded by the light. The most remarkable instance is that of lettuce, which was brought to maturity in from 5 to 10 days earlier than other plants grown in the same house and under otherwise identical con ditions. This discovery has led to the com mercial application of the arc light, if not of the incandescent also, to the forcing of lettuce under glass in several of the larger New Eng land forcing houses, with the result that a gain of about three weeks' time is calculated upon for the season, thus enabling the gardener to devote his benches to one more crop than formerly or to follow his lettuce crops with cucumbers, the favorite successor, much earlier than would otherwise be possible. Several
flower crops, such as Easter lilies and sweet pease, have been experimented upon, with the result that they were forced into bloom several days in advance of others grown without the stimulus. In such cases the plants are always grown without the light until within about a month of maturity, when the light is applied for about half the night. It has been found that unless the light pass through a glass globe or pane there is a noticeable "scorching" of the foliage or flower. It is concluded that this is due to the action of the ultra-violet rays of the spectrum rays; which do not pass through the glass. Consult various bulletins of the Massa chusetts, Hatch, Cornell University and West Virginia Experiment stations. See ELECTRIC