SEED IMPROVEMENT MEETING. 287 



ments, the purpose of which is not primarily or solely to test 

 varieties but to furnish the basis of an extended work with oats 

 by selection, with the idea of discovering new and valuable 

 strains which should yield higher and be adapted to our con- 

 ditions. That is to say, the object of the work is precisely the 

 same as that of the work which Mr. Cook has spoken of in 

 connection with the Oderbrucker barley in Wisconsin. We 

 have selected out of the variety test plots this year about 500 

 individual oat plants which seem to possess particular merit 

 for one reason or another. Each one of those will be planted 

 separately next year and an account taken of the various char- 

 acteristics of the resultant plants. We shall probably find a 

 small number that will possess some merit and will be used for 

 carrying on further work. It is impossible to tell in this sort 

 of work when we are going to find out anything, as I tried to 

 bring out yesterday in talking about corn. There is no way 

 that we know of, by which we can force the issue. I merely 

 want to bring to the attention of the association the kind of 

 work the Experiment Station is trying to do. One other line 

 which is to be taken up shortly is in accordance with the sug- 

 gestion of Mr. Pease, some kind of work with wheat. 



L. S. AIerrill — I am glad Dr. Pearl mentioned the work of 

 the Experiment Station, because I want to leave with the asso- 

 ciation as a last impression the fact that we have in our State 

 now, in connection with this association work, a co-operation 

 between the agricultural organizations and institutions, and we 

 ought to encourage that. You have a statement made by a 

 representative of the Director of the Experiment Station, out- 

 lining the work that they have already begun and propose to 

 do, not only for the farmers of Maine but primarily as an aid 

 to the work of this organization. You have had stated to you 

 by Prof. Bell, representing the president of the University in 

 this particular, that he had been authorized to organize some 

 demonstration plot work and carry on check tests with the mem- 

 bers of the association. Of course this will be of educational 

 value to the students of the institution, but far and away beyond 

 that will be the interest of the people of the State when they 

 visit the institution and the educational advantages it will be 

 to those visitors, and then the co-operative assistance extended 

 to this association. In addition to this we have the assistance 

 of the Department of '^sfri culture; and I shall always regard 



