254 SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH 



Engines. — A 3 H. P. gasolene engine was purchased for 

 operating the milking machine hereafter noted, and a 15 

 H. P. steam engine for cutting ensilage and fodder, grinding 

 feed, pressing hay, etc. 



Drainage. — A car-load of tile was purchased in the spring 

 to increase and extend the systems of drainage begun a year 

 ago. 



11. Grains and Grasses. 



Oats. — On account of the unfavorable results due to the 

 attacks of rust in 1904 no oats were planted in 1905. Eight 

 common varieties secured from various New England seeds- 

 men were planted this spring and yielded from 28 to 40 

 bushels per acre, varying in weight from 31 to 40.5 pounds 

 per bushel. 



Corn. — Twenty-two varieties of corn were planted this 

 season on one-tenth acre plots. Twelve of these varieties 

 grown in various other northern states, were furnished by 

 the United States Department of Agriculture. The remain- 

 ing ten were secured from local seedsmen or collected in 

 various parts of the state. Fertilizer and cultural tests are 

 also being made on a series of tenth-acre plots. The results 

 of all the corn tests are being held for a separate bulletin. 



Alfalfa. — Attempts have been made for the past four sea- 

 sons at this Station and in different parts of the state, to 

 secure uniform stands of alfalfa. Different times and meth- 

 ods of seeding have been tried ; various fertilizers and inocu- 

 lating cultures have been used ; different types of soil have 

 been tested, but thus far no uniformly satisfactory results 

 have been obtained. It has been learned, however, and the 

 present season's trials indicate, that the proper time for seed- 

 ing is the month of July after the ground has been thor- 

 oughly cultivated and freed from weeds for six weeks or 

 longer. The use of lime and a liberal supply of fertilizers 

 also seems necessary. Inoculation of the soil with other 

 soil in which alfalfa has been grown for a number of years 

 has been reported to be beneficial. Although the growing of 



