12a EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



Pomology Project 18. "Comparison of cultivation and heavy mulching for 

 apples and pears." 



Professor Shaw. 



Two one-half acre blocks, one of Wealthy apple and the other of Mcintosh apple 

 interplanted with Bosc pear, were divided into two parts, and one-half of each carried 

 on the cultivation and cover crop system and the other half heavily mulched with swale 

 hay from the neighboring lowlands. Fertilizers will be used as thej' seem necessary. 

 This project is related to Projects 5, 6, 7 and 8 discussed above. 



Crop and Crop Management Studies. 



The studies carried on under this head are devoted mainly to the general 

 problem of improving on existing conditions. Attempt is made to determine the 

 adaptability of new crops as they may be introduced into Massachusetts, to find 

 improved varieties, and to enable farmers to make selection among varieties 

 offered; and to breed better varieties. There is also included in this group of 

 studies work designed to develop better methods of handling our present crops. 



The work under way in these several lines is as described in the following: 



Plant Introduction. 

 Cranberrj'- Station Project 5. "Blueberiy investigations. 



Professor Franklin. 



This project was commenced in 1915, and is co-operative with the Bureau of Plant 

 Industry of the United States Department of Agriculture. Preliminarj^ tests with fer- 

 tilizers were started during the year, and extensive budding continued. Planting and 

 budding have both gone about as far as present facilities permit. More land and a 

 propagating house are needed for this work. 



Pomology Project 17. "A study of the cultivation of the high bush cranberry." 



Professor Shaw. 



Two hundred plants of Viburnum were received in the spring of 1921 from the United 

 States Department of Agriculture and set out. A few of these plants bore a few clusters 

 of berries. As soon as a crop is produced, affording a basis for selection, it is expected 

 to carry out some work in propagation of desirable tj'pes. 



Strain and Variety Tests. 



Agriculture Project 5. "Test of meadow fescue versxis timothy under varying 

 drainage conditions." 



Assistant Professor Gaskill and Mr. Coffin. 



The 1922 hay crop did not show any great superiority of one grass as compared to the 

 other. Timothy gave the larger crop on the wetter portions of the field, the fescue out- 

 yielded the timothy on the drier portions. 



Agronomy Project 1. "Investigation of the value of Hubam or annual sweet 

 clover as compared to the biennial sweet clovers." 



Professor Michels. 



The spring seeding of both the annual and the biennial sweet clovers was a failure, 

 possibly due to the late date of sowing. Germination in the late summer season was 

 poor. The yellow sweet clover had such a weak growth as to indicate no value. It will 

 be discarded from future tests. The Hubam made a much heavier, fuller top growth 

 than did the biennial clover, but on the other hand the root growth of the latter was 

 much the larger. 



