268 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



The Baldwin orchard has also been divided into two parts for a 

 fertilizer test. Rows i to 26 inclusive (beginning at the north end of 

 the orchard) have received the 4-8-7 fertilizer at the rate of 1000 pounds 

 per acre plus nitrate of soda at the rate of 100 pounds per acre. The 

 remainder of the orchard has received the 4-8-7 formula at the rate of 

 1000 pounds per acre. 



An experiment to compare the effect of fertilizer over a series of 

 years is begun this j-ear. The orchard has been cultivated and fertilized 

 for three years and has been brought into good condition. All the 

 lots will be cultivated and everything (other than apples) that grows 

 upon the land will be plowed in each spring. 



9 A. Rows I to 4 will receive no fertilizer. 



9 B. Rows 5 to 8 ■^ill receive annually 500 pounds per acre of a 

 5-8-7 commercial fertilizer. 



9 C. Rows 9 to 12 will receive annually toco pounds per acre of a 

 5-8-7 commercial fertilizer. 



It is planned to begin in 1913 a similar experiment with more mature 

 trees which will also be carried through a series of years. 



For the past three years this plot has been used for testing swine 

 and sheep in orchard management. A few missing trees have been re- 

 placed. This year the plot is treated with 1000 pounds commercial 

 fertilizer (4-8-7 goods) and is kept in clean cultivation in order that 

 the trees may be in good vigor when the fertilizer experiment is begun. 



Plant Breeding Experiments. 



Sweet Corn. 



Experiments with sweet corn were begun at Farmington in 1907. 

 An experiment is being started this year to test the effect on yield and 

 quantity of crossing two highly bred, closely related strains of white 

 sweet corn, in each of which earliness is a fixed characteristic. 



Yellow Field (Dent) Corn. 



Preliminary experiments with dent corn were conducted at Farming- 

 ton 3 years ago. This work has since been continued at Highmoor. 

 Plots No. 17, 18 and i8a are planted with a variety of corn originally 

 obtained from Mr. Hiram Corn forth of Watcrville. During the past 

 three years the corn has been selected on the ear-to- row system, until 

 finally some highly desirable types have been bred. These are being 

 tested this year in tlic plots here noted (17, 18, iSa) on a larger scale. 

 A further ear-to-row test is also being carried on on these plots. 



Orch.'Vrd SPR.^YING Experiment. 



This is a continuation of last year's work, and is a test of the home 

 made concentrated lime-sulphur spray as a fungicide used at different 



