SEED IMPROVEMENT MEETING. 221 



believe this is not a very close type of the strictly old fashioned 

 yellow-eyes, having too much yellow upon them and being con- 

 siderably larger. This same bean I have raised for several 

 years and it has been of good quality and quite free from rust. 



The sample of the Morse bean which I believe to be nearest 

 the type that we desire and to have the strongest tendencies to 

 maintain its own characteristics did not prove all that I hoped 

 it would. They rusted quite a little and did not appear very 

 vigorous at any time during this season, although the plants had 

 the best of care. Yet I for one am willing to adopt the Morse 

 bean as a standard for our Association. It may not be improper 

 to merely suggest that we might reduce our different types by 

 one and continue our further investigations with the Morse and 

 Austin varieties. 



It should be our purpose to breed a type that is as hardy as 

 possible against rust and other fungous diseases ; also one that is 

 productive. If this can be done the bean crop will be a profita- 

 ble one for the average Maine farmer to raise. The rust 

 appears to do its deadly work more destructively some years 

 than others, due perhaps to the climatic conditions at the time 

 when the plant is most susceptible to such agencies. The 

 treatment of seed, the removal of diseased seedlings, and spray- 

 ing with Bordeaux mixture have accomplished practically noth- 

 ing toward the procuring of a clean crop of beans. But it seems 

 to me one of the surest and best methods to bring this about is 

 through pod or stalk selection. I know of no reason why if 

 one bean in a pod is aftected the rest are not, although they 

 may show no outward signs of infection. If a pod is afifected 

 without and the beans perfectly clean within, I fail to see why 

 these beans are not infected and do not carry this disease 

 with them. 



BOYS* JUDGING CONTEST. 



At 11.00 o'clock the boys' judging contest in potatoes and 

 corn was held, and the following awards were made : 



Judging Contest in Corn — Earl Smith, Dixmont, ist; Harry 

 Getchell, North Anson, 2nd. 



Judging Contest in Potatoes — Earl Smith, Dixmont, ist; 

 Harry Getchell, North Anson, 2nd. 



