COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE. 255 



been made in every county in Maine and have included variety 

 tests of farm crops, fertilizer tests, demonstrations of modern 

 farm practice and orchard management. During the year 191 1 

 the tests conducted were mainly with corn, oats, and alfalfa. 



(a) Corn: — ^^A large portion of the corn tests were conducted 

 by young men and boys. The general plan on which they have 

 been conducted is as follows: Several ears of corn varying 

 from 2 to 10 in number have been sent to such persons as 

 requested them. Report blanks have accompanied the seed. 

 Each experimenter is expected to make a report promptly at 

 the close of the season and to forward a sample consisting of 

 10 ears for exhibition purposes at the annual Farmers' Week. 



(b) Oats: — The sample of oats sent out for experimental 

 work consisted of four pounds of some leading variety. The oats 

 used during the year 19TI were grown by the Maine Agricul- 

 tural Experiment Station. Cultural directions and report blanks 

 were furnished and each co-operator was required to forward to 

 the College at the close of the year eight quarts of oats grown 

 from the experimental plot. 



(c) Alfalfa: — The demonstration tests with alfalfa are planned 

 to cover a period of several years. The plots varied in size 

 from one-third of an acre to one acre. The varieties of seed 

 used were principally Grimm and Sand Lucerne. All of the ex- 

 perimental plots of alfalfa were visited by a representative of 

 the College during the summer but no definite results can be 

 reported before the close of another year. 



(d) The co-operative tests conducted during the past year 

 have been productive of much good. This has been especially 

 true with corn, as indicated each year in the marked improve- 

 ment in the quality of corn forwarded by experimenters to the 

 College. 



Co-operative Poultry Producers' Associations: — Co-operation 

 in the marketing of poultry products offers splendid opportun- 

 ity for development and progress. There is perhaps no other 

 agricultural industry that is capable of bringing, under co- 

 operative action, so immediate or so profitable results. 



Farmers' Neighborhood Clubs: — Several Farmers' Neighbor- 

 hood clubs have been organized during the past year and have 

 served an important purpose in the development of community 



