Chapter V: AGRICULTURE, TESTING EGGS
A number of interesting experiments can be carried out using soil, fertilisers and plants which should prove beneficial to one’s garden. I do not claim that this method is by any means infallible, because of the human element, but for all practical purposes it should give a good indication of the type of soil compost required for any particular plant and deter gardeners from trying to grow something in soil which is unsuitable. As a matter of interest, I read in a book written by a French Radiesthetist that there is a part of the potato which reacts strongly to the pendulum and that if this part is placed towards the North, the yield is likely to be very considerably increased. This is, of course, not a practical proposition in a general way, but I suggest that a few rows for experimental purposes might prove interesting.
A number of Radiesthetists, after careful investigation, have discovered that trees, particularly fruit trees, will not flourish if they are planted over a subterranean stream. This would appear to be paradoxical as one would have thought that a tree would benefit from the proximity of water to its roots, but that is apparently not the case. They state also that trees so situated are more likely to be struck by lightning than others, in fact, one authority on the subject goes so far as to say that all trees struck by lightning are standing over streams. I have had no evidence of this so I am merely passing on what I have read.
The use of Radiesthesia for the purpose of testing eggs is nothing new. It is, I believe, used by a number of breeders, but is far from being in general use. Quite recently I asked two county poultry advisers and they were of the opinion that, if it were possible, it would be of considerable value to breeders, which rather implied that they were sceptical and that it was not a common practice as far as they knew. There are several methods, some possibly more accurate than others, but the principle is much the same. Care should be taken that a fresh piece of paper is placed under each egg, otherwise you may get false reactions.
The egg should be pointing North and South, that is to say, its longitudinal axis should be as near the North-South line as possible, with the pointed end of the egg towards the North. Apply your pendulum over the egg in the usual manner, keeping the left hand on the table, near the egg. If the pendulum swings along the axis of the egg, it is sterile; if it gyrates clockwise it signifies a cock bird; and if it gyrates in an anti-clockwise direction then a hen bird may be expected. In some cases it will be seen that the actions of the pendulum are feeble, which indicate that a successful hatching is in doubt.
A second method, and one which appeals to me very much as it seems more logical, is somewhat slower. As samples one must have two feathers, one each from a cock and hen bird. The feather should be held in the right hand with the pendulum and the sex of the egg is determined by the feather to which the pendulum reacts. If there is no reaction the egg is sterile. W. H. Trinder claims 100 per cent, right in the case of small lots, but when he came to do 150 at a time he had a small error, but only in the case of sex, steriles were all correct. This he attributes to fatigue which I can well understand, and I have already sounded a word of warning in this respect. This method is one of determining harmony between the feather and the egg and it is this reason that makes me think that it is more logical than others. I have no idea how many sterile eggs may be expected but if the percentage is at all high it would appear that the time spent on testing should be well worth while in the case of poultry breeders.
While discussing this subject, Henri Malhn adds that it is probably advantageous to arrange for eggs to be hatched while the moon is waxing as opposed to waning. I have heard the same