182 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



100 pounds dried blood. 



300 pounds acid phosphate. 



100 pounds sulpliate of potash. 



500 pounds per acre. 



400 pounds tankage. 



100 pounds sulphate of potash. 



500 pounds per acre. 



8o far the observations upon the cover crops indicate that the winter 

 vetch sown in August, at the rate of thirty i)ounds per acre, is the 

 most satisfactory. 



The influence of the cover crop and fertilizer upon the yield cannot 

 be obtained until this fall (3 011) since the tests were not started until 

 August, 1909, and in 1910 the grape crop was only about five per cent 

 of a normal crop owing to the late spring frosts. These tests are 

 being followed with much interest by the grape growei*s in the vicinity 

 of J^awton. 



The effects of cover crops in orchards are in progress at t^outh 

 Haven, Casnovia, Scottville, Ludington and Bellaire. The plot in each 

 ])lace comprises six acres of as uniform soil as it is possible to secure. 

 Plants that are being tested include the clovers, vetches and various 

 mixtures of plants that grow rapidly in the fall and others that grow 

 rapidly in the spring. Other conditions being satisfactory, an effort is 

 made to locate these tests in an orchard that is conspicuous and of easy 

 access to all fruit growers in the vicinity. Much good has already 

 resulted from the observation of neighbors. 



The most promising plant so far tested is the winter vetch, twenty- 

 five to thirty pounds of seed per acre sown in July or August. 



Tests have been continued to determine the advantages of spraying 

 jiotatoes to protect them from late blight and rot (Phytopthora in- 

 fcstensK Last fall (1910) u])on the college grounds, one acre of potatoes 

 were grown under uniform conditions of soil, fertilizer and seed. Every 

 other of four rows were sprayed with Bordeaux mixture (six pounds 

 (•op])er sulphate, four pounds of lime to fifty gallons of water) and Avhen 

 needed, Paris Green (Mj ])<»und to fifty gallons of Bordeaux). Spray- 

 ings were made on July 8th, 22nd; August 5th, 19th and September 

 2nd. Paris Green was needed in the first two sprayings. The alternate 

 lour rows were protected from bugs by s])raying with Paris Green on 

 .July 8th and 22nd. At no time could blight (Phytopthora infestens) 

 be found on the plants. At digging time, the yield of each row were 

 sorted into marketable jiotafoes and "culls," the latter being those 

 smaller than a hen's egg. The gain for tlie five sprayings was 43 

 bushels 28 pounds of marketable tubers. 



The cost of spraying and of the material is from eighty cents to 

 (me dollar per acre, for each ai)plication. This increase in the yield, 

 in the absence of the l)light, is due to the stimulation of growth that 



