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made upon the independent authority of three parties who tested 

 them repeatedly, and without knowing in any ease the nature of 

 the difference between the samples offered for the test. 



Experiments witli grass in half and quarter acre plats have been 

 carried out during the last three years in great number. In these 

 experiments the plan has been to study the question whether manure 

 at the local prices, or fertilizers, would afford the more profitable 

 increase in crop. Manures of various kinds have been used on 

 from seven to ten plats each year, and in quantities varying from 

 about three to five cords per acre. Fertilizers in various combina- 

 tions and amounts have been employed upon about an equal number 

 of plats. The mateiials used have been muriate of potash, dry 

 ground fish, dried blood, bone meal and superphosphate. Among 

 the most satisfactory combinations have been : — 



1. Muriate of potash, 160 pounds; dry ground fish, 400 pounds 



2. Muriate of potash, 160 pounds ; diy ground fish, 200 pounds ; and 

 bone meal, 200 pounds. 



In these experiments the manure applied has cost on the land 

 from $15 to $25 per acre. The increase in the crop has been 

 insuflicient to repay this expenditure. Such applications of fertil- 

 izers as I have mentioned above can be made for $10 to $12 per 

 acre, and the increase in crop is sufficient to repay such an ex- 

 penditure. 



The Horticultural Division. 



The work of this division has been continued on similar lines to 

 those of former years, and is outlined as follows : — 



Comparison of New and Old Varieties of Fruits. 



Among the new varieties of fruits tested, few if any have been 

 found superior or even equal to the older sorts. Many of them 

 are very promising, but their real value for New England can only 

 be determined by several years' tests, and that in more than one 

 locality. 



Taking the old and new varieties together, those that our tests 

 lead us to pronounce the most valuable for general market and 

 home use are as follows, given in the order of ripening : — 



Apples, — Red Astrachan, (i raven stein, Haas Bahlwin, Rhode Island 

 Greening, Roxbury Russett. 



Pears. — Giftard, Clapjj, Bartlett, Bose, Sheldon, Anjou, Lawrence, 

 Dana's Hovey. 



