ɐmˌʌŋ hɪz ɛkspˈɛɹɪmənts kɹˈɔs ɪɹˈɛktᵻd "ɐn ɛkstˈɛnsɪv ˌæpɚɹˈæɾəs fɔːɹ ɛɡzˈæmɪnɪŋ ðɪ ᵻlɛktɹˈɪsᵻɾi ʌvðɪ ˈætməsfˌɪɹ," ɪŋkˈoːɹpɚɹˌeɪɾɪŋ æt wˈʌn pˈɔɪnt ɐn ˈɪnsəlˌeɪɾᵻd wˈaɪɚ sˌʌm lˈɔŋ, lˈeɪɾɚ ʃˈɔːɹʔn̩d tuː , səspˈɛndᵻd fɹʌm pˈoʊlz ænd tɹˈiːz.
Among his experiments Crosse erected "an extensive apparatus for examining the electricity of the atmosphere," incorporating at one point an insulated wire some  long, later shortened to , suspended from poles and trees.