A Vegetable Gas Manufactory
A Vegetable Gas Manufactory is a short story written by Frank R. Stockton in 1874. The story follows the adventures of two men who attempt to create gas from vegetables as an alternative fuel source for their town. They encounter various obstacles along the way, including a lack of funding and skepticism from the community. Despite these challenges, they persevere and eventually succeed in creating a viable gas product. The story is a humorous commentary on the importance of innovation and persistence in the face of adversity.
By Frank R. Stockton · First published 1874 · Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure · 271 words
First lines
There is a plant, called by botanists the Fraxinella, which has the peculiar property of giving out, from its leaves and stalks, a gas which is inflammable. Sometimes, on a very still day, when there is no wind to blow it away as fast as it is produced, this gas may be ignited by a match, when the plant is growing in the open air. But this is very seldom the case, for the air must be very quiet, and the plant very productive, for enough gas to be found around it to ignite when a flame is applied.
What this Textopian page supports
A Vegetable Gas Manufactory is listed on Textopian as a short story by Frank R. Stockton, dated 1874 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Frank R. Stockton
- Date: 1874 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Educational, Experimental
- Length: 271 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Vegetable Gas Manufactory by Frank R. Stockton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Vegetable Gas Manufactory?
- How does this short story by Frank R. Stockton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The story involves a plant with unusual properties that produce inflammable gas, which aligns with speculative scientific concepts.
- Fantasy — The idea of a plant producing enough gas to be ignited is fantastical and not grounded in real-world botany.
- Adventure — The narrative explores the discovery and experimentation with a unique plant, suggesting an element of exploration and adventure.
- Educational — The text provides detailed information about the Fraxinella plant and its properties, serving an instructive purpose.
Tags
humor · satire · science fiction · invention · industrialization · vegetables · gas · technology · 19th century · American literature · absurdity · social commentary