358 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



One important point should be noticed in this connection, which is 

 the value of the growth as compared with the cost of the food. The 

 twenty-four cockerels jiained in the thirty-two days 20J pounds, 

 this increase having a value of at least $2.50. They consumed 94 

 pounds of corn and 12 J pounds of scrap and blood, the whole cost- 

 ing $1.50. The half bushel of small potatoes fed had scarcely any 

 market value. 



Certainly no other form of meat can be produced in Maine at a 

 cost for food of three-fifths of its market value. 



TESTS OF VARIETIES. 



In 1886 the Station grew fort}' varieties of potatoes, twent}^ va- 

 rieties of oats (so-called varieties) and six varieties of barley. This 

 was done with especial reference to making an exhibition of varieties 

 of grain, etc., at our State fairs, but at the same time the work was 

 carried on in such a manner as to secure a record of the relative 

 yield. 



POTATOES. 



Forty varieties of these were planted, twenty hills of each. The 

 same weight of seed was used in each case, the potatoes being cut 

 so as to secure a uniform distribution of the e3'es. No other record 

 was kept than the date at whi(;h the tops began to die, and the total 

 yield of tubers from each twent}' hills. 



The land on which the potatoes were planted was a mellow loam, 

 very uniform in character. It produced two tons of hay to the acre 

 in 1885, and received previous to the planting of the potatoes a fairly 

 liberal application of dissolved bone black and muriate of potash. 

 For some unknown reason nearl}' every tuber of every variety was 

 scabby, so that none were placed on exhibition. The planting was 

 done on May 21, and the tubers were dug on September 1. The 

 tops of some of the varieties scarcely showed signs of decay when 

 the digging was done, and in these cases the date of the death of 

 the tops cannot be given. 



