[LB054606], Letter from Alfred Ord Tate to Sgobel and Day, December 15th, 1891
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/LB054606
Transcription
Dec. 15, 1891. Messrs. Sgobel & Day, No. 24 State Street, New York City. Dear Sirs:- Mr. Edison has read your letter of 3th instant, informing him of the receipt by you of letters from several of your friends in Almeria, Spain., stating that the phylloxera promised to do great damage to the vineyards there, and also informing Mr. Edison of the desire of your friends to obtain his opinion as to whether the application of electricity to the roots of the vines would be efficacious in stopping the trouble complained of. In reply Mr. Edison has instructed me to say to you that there is no doubt if a sufficiently strong alternating electric current were sent through iron rods, three feet apart and about two feet below the surface, it would in a short time either kill the insects or drive them away. Mr. Edison is not sure, however, but that the electricity applied in the manner described would also kill the plant, and before experimenting on a large scale a trial should be made on one plant and the effect noted. This reply to your letter has been unavoidably delayed owing to the absence of Mr. Edison from the Laboratory. Yours truly, A. O. Tate Private Secretary.