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Show TO ELECTRIFY WATER Benefits Which Are Said to Be Secured Are Two-Fold. System Is Expected to Materially Increase In-crease Crops and to Combat Effectually Effec-tually Drought, Insects and Other Troubles. (PFtO.M THK HriENTIKIC AMKHICAN e have hud occasion In these columns col-umns to refer repeatedly to expert tnents carried on by Sir Oliver Lodgo and others on the Influence of electricity electric-ity on the growth of plants. Mr. Kmllio Olsson of Iluenos Aires, Argentine Argen-tine Republic, at present In the Unit-id Unit-id States, has of late years been giving giv-ing his attention to the practical development de-velopment of a process In which It Is proposed to make use of electrified water for sprinkling fields. The Inventor In-ventor claims that his experiments demonstrate the practical utility of such a procedure. The benefits which are said to be secured are two-fold. First, there Is a direct advantage to the plants, and secondly, Mr. Olsson states that according to his observations observa-tions various harmful Insects and other organisms are destroyed because be-cause of his process. The need or artificial Irrigation la severely felt In many places where, owing to the nature of the climate, long terms of drought have to be contended con-tended with. It Is particularly In such districts aa these that Mr. Olsson proposes to Introduce his system, by the aid of which he eipects to Increase In-crease the crop and to combat effee- water is raised to a suitable height by a motor or traction engine. The supply may be drawn from a river, stream, artesian well, or any other suitable source. Two high towers may be Initialled, from which pipes are sus 1 ciult d by menus of suitable supporting support-ing cables. The pipes apply circular spray nozslcs which revolve automatically, automat-ically, and five to leu acres of land can readily be thus supplied with an evenly diHtrlbuter shower of water. When It Is desired (o use electrified water, a reservoir Is used. Into which the water is pumped, to be subsequently subse-quently distributed In the manner In-dWhteil In-dWhteil above. The reservoir consists of an iron tank placed on an Insulated support and charged from a dynamo supplying 0.5 ampere at 110 volts. The Iron wall of the tank serves as positive posi-tive pole; the negative pole consists of a copper wire insulated all except the tip. It Is claimed that certain chemical reactions take place In the water, with production of oxygen, ozone, and hydrogen peroxide at the anode, and that certain of the prod ucts formed are beneficial to the planta. Mr. Olsson further suggests that this electrification of the water would tend to purify it and "tndoi It better for drinking purposes. Mr. Olsson hat installed hit apparatus appara-tus In a plantation near Iluenos Aires and states that by the use of six sprinkling nozzles at a height of five meters above ground some 600 acrea of ground under cultivation were treated treat-ed with beneficial results. The appa ratus has also been adopted by the municipality of Iluenos Aires and Is giving satisfaction In the public parks and gnrdena In that city. Mr. Olsson also states that during the long drought from which the republlo Buffered Buf-fered for over alx months In 1910, be M.S' Mil" rJi j if. " "4 ,i Jki r.ff- - . .a ' 1 .; I - U'r - .-v S "S - " " f'i? , (r'ltOM THE SCIENTIFIC AMKMICAN ) Irrigation by Means of Artificial Rain. tually Drought, Insects and other troubles. The cost of the Olsson syt-it syt-it estimated at a figure which Is quite moderate at compared with the benefits to be derived. The cost of Installation for the sprinkling apparatus appa-ratus it figured at S50 to tloO per acre, according to local conditions. The system It very simple. The was able to produce a very fine crop of alfalfa and vegetablea and to supply the owners of race horses with fresh rodder. Ily installing a system of artificial arti-ficial Irrigation over some part of their crop, farmers should be able to Insure themselves against drought, falling back upon artificial sprinkling In case natural rain falls. |