HC Deb 27 February 1924 vol 170 cc509-10W
Mr. WRIGHT

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give details for the years 1904 to 1923, inclusive, of experiments made by his Department of the application of electricity to plant life; and the costs and results of such experiments?

Mr. NOEL BUXTON

A Committee to advise the Ministry in regard to electro-culture was set up in 1918 and that experiments devised by that Committee have been in progress since that date. Grants amounting in all to £8,000 have been paid by the Ministry in aid of the work. The experiments have shown that certain types of electrical discharge have a very marked influence on the development of plant growth, but a great deal has yet to be learned of the best methods and periods of application. Details of the experiments and the results, which cannot easily be summarised, are contained in a series of reports of which copies are being sent to my hon. Friend. Some account of the work appeared in the Ministry's journal for December, 1922, and July, 1923.