FlEIvD EXPERIMENTS IN 1914. 49 



August was on the 28th when it was 35 degrees. It was, how- 

 ever, colder than this at some of the lower parts of Aroostook 

 Farm, where there was a slight frost on this night of August 28. 



It is to be remembered that experiments of this kind cannot 

 be expected to give results in a single year that will be conclu- 

 sive. The weighed yields on the plots were as follows: Plot i, 

 127 barrels; Plot 2, 121 barrels; Plot 3, 123 barrels; Plot 4, 126 

 barrels; Plot 5, 1 18 barrels, per acre. The plots containing sul- 

 phate of ammonia averaged 119 barrels and the plots containing 

 nitrate of soda averaged 126 barrels per acre, while the plot 

 which contained both sulphate of ammonia and nitrate of soda 

 was half way between or 123 barrels per acre. In this single 

 year's trial the results were in favor of nitrate of soda. 



It is planned to repeat this experiment in 191 5. 



Method of Application of Fertilizer upon Potatoes at 

 Aroostook Farm. 



It has always been more or less customary in growing potatoes 

 in Maine to apply the fertilizer in the drill or hill at the time of 

 planting. This was largely the practice when farm manures 

 were used in connection with potato growing and has been fol- 

 lowed with commercial fertilizers. Although now when farm 

 manures are used in connection with potatoes they are more 

 likely to be applied broadcast and a smaller amount of fer- 

 tilizer applied in the drill. There was little question in the minds 

 of practical growers that when 500 to looo pounds of fertilizer 

 were applied per acre that it was to the best advantage to apply 

 it in the drill. With the increase up to 1500 to 2000 pounds per 

 acre the question has arisen whether it may not be advisable to 

 apply the fertilizer at dififerent times. This led the Station to 

 undertake trials at Aroostook Farm. 



In 1914 an experiment was started to extend over a period of 

 years for the purpose of testing the method of applying fertilizer- 

 Something over acre plots were used. In the first and fourth of 

 the six plots 1000 pounds per acre of the fertilizer were applied 

 broadcast before planting and 500 pounds were applied with the 

 planter. On plots 2 and 5 the whole 1500 pounds per acre of 

 fertilizer were applied at the time of planting. On plots 3 and 

 6, 1000 pounds per acre were applied with the planter at the 

 time of planting and 500 pounds at the first cultivation. 



