l86 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE OX SMALL 



GRAINS. 



Since receiving the appointment as a special committee on 

 small grains I have given the proposition referred to me, 

 namely, to report upon a plan for premiums and conditions for 

 growing and exhibiting small grains that would insure a uni- 

 formly superior grade of seed, considerable attention and have 

 come to the conclusion that so far as small grains are concerned 

 we are not now in a position where we can safely say that any 

 particular variety or type is the best and the writer of this 

 report hesitates to make any specific recommendation excepting 

 that first of all variety tests of oats and other small grains 

 should be made to determine if possible certain fundamental 

 facts and that then the Association should so shape up its 

 premium list as to emphasize the important factors in grain 

 production. 



\'ariety tests are already being made by the Experiment Sta- 

 tion and the same thing could be done under direction by the 

 members. It can be said that the thing of prime importance is 

 the largest production of food material per acre It is the one 

 thing we are striving for but in order that this point may be 

 reached in the shortest possible time I recommend that the 

 proposition before this special committee be referred to the 

 Seed Breeding Committee for consideration and report. 



Respectfully submitted, 



LEON S. MERRILL. 



This report was followed by a general discussion. 



Dr. Raymond Pe.vrl — It seems to me that the thing to be 

 done first is to find out the varieties of small grain best 

 adapted to meet the local conditions of soil and climate in 

 various sections of our State. I feel that the Station can best 



