ELECTRICITY IN THE GARDEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 810, 2 November 1929, Page 32

ELECTRICITY IN THE GARDEN

Sweden has now 300 electro-horti-cultural establishments and a special institute and laboratory for scientific research work. The use of electricity in horticulture and the successful experiments already made, open up a new epoch to the horticulturists and will make them increasingly independent of seasonal and climatic changes, according to Professor Sven Oden, a leading Swedish expert of electrohorticulture. In this branch of research work Sweden now is the international leader, said the professor, thanks to energetic experimenting and to the generous assistance of the Government.

In spite of the fact that Sweden is at present ice-bound and in the grip of an intense cold spell, there are home-grown luscious raspberries to be had at the Government experimental gardening headquarters near Stockholm. Summer flowers are there to be seen in full bloom, and the King on his Christmas table had fresh and delicious cucumber, raised by electricity. Electricity is used partly for heating the earth and partly as a substitute for sunlight. The earth-heating problem has been definitely solved, and proved to be economic in practical use. For instance, in the experimental garden of Homlingby, near the city of Geyle, 10,000 tulips, 1,500 lilies of the valley, and 1,500 hyacinths were electrically raised in the month of January, and the cost of the electric current used was found to amount to about 1 per cent, of the commercial value of the bulbs. The use of electric ■ lighting as a substitute for sunshine is still in the experimental stage, and presents a more intricate problem owing to the great difference and varying sensitivity of the plants to different kinds of light. “Horticultural Advertiser” (England).