114 MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



In every instance there was a marked increase in the number of 

 fruits from plants handled in pots, and in the total weight of fruit 

 produced. It will be observed, however, that the individual fruits 

 averaged larger on the plants from boxes. This fact is no doubt 

 due to the smaller numbers borne, as before mentioned. 



In the last column is given the number of bushels per acre before 

 October 1st, on the basis of the weight of fruit picked at that time, 

 and considering the plants placed five feet apart each way in the 

 field. With one variety the difference is slightly (about 9 bushels 

 per acre) in favor of the box culture. This difference being due 

 to the marked increase in size. But the first three varieties show a 

 difference of more than 29 bushels each, in favor of the pot-grown 

 plants. This difference, at 75 cents per bushel (none of our fruit 

 was sold at less than 60 cents per bushel, and early in the season 

 we received $1.75 at wholesale), would amount to $21.83 per acre, 

 — a sum that would far more than pay for the cost of pots and the 

 slightly increased cost of handling in the house. 



Conclusion : There appears to be a marked increase in the pro- 

 ductiveness of plants handled in pots previous to setting in the 

 field. 



3- Individual Variation: The danger from drawing too free 

 conclusions from a single season's work was suggested last year, 

 when it was found that, /'In no case were the results from dupli- 

 cate tests uniform."* A similar test of the variation of duplicate 

 lots of any given variety was conducted the past season. The 

 results bear out our former conclusion to such an extent that results 

 of certain methods of culture undertaken are withheld for further 

 verification. 



Table IX shows the comparative results obtained with duplicate 

 lots of each of three varieties, all of which were given the same 

 treatment in house and field. 



*Report Maine Experiment Station, 1892, page 64. 



