German-British electrical engineer and businessman (1823-1883) known for his invention of telegraph apparatus and improvements in gas engines. Three ALSs signed "C. William Siemens," totaling eight pages on three sets of adjoining sheets, dated 1879-1880. All to English botanist and taxonomist Maxwell T. Masters on the subject of plants grown using electric light.
The first, in part: "I quite agree with you in believing that the Electric Light will be found very effective as a substitute of solar light in promoting the growth of plants…Like solar light the ray is sufficiently intense to break up CO2 and produce woody fibre…Some time ago I spoke to Sir Jos. Hooker at my own dinner table on this subject wishing to interest him for the idea but he did not appear much taken with it. If I was a botanist as well as an Electrician I would before this have tried an experiment but being that you are struck with the same idea I should be willing to cooperate with you in putting the question to a practical test."
The second, in part: "I am sorry you could not go with me today. The strawberries exposed to Electrical Lt. have made astounding progress & I shall exhibit tomorrow night two bushes that were exactly alike a fortnight ago, the one having ripe fruit and the other (daylight only but kept at the same temperature with the one that had both lights) only green fruit. If you could be at the R.S. tonight you would have an opportunity of tasting the fruit to judge the qualities…It is also interesting to observe some melon plants which did remarkably well."
The third, in part: "What you did is only the continuation of one of my series of preliminary trials and this would convey only a very slight impression of what the capabilities of the Electric Lt. will be found to be both for forming and for promoting growth in the open air."
In overall very good to fine condition, with light soiling and red pencil numerical notations. Accompanied by an ALS by Alexander Siemens (1847-1928), himself a noteworthy electrical engineer, returning the three letters to Masters.
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