FIELD KXPKRIMENTS. 



29 



In the years 1907, 1908 and 1909 field experiments compar- 

 ing the shallow planting and high ridge cultivation common 

 in Aroostook County with a deeper planting and a low broad 

 ridge were carried out at Houlton. The three seasons had an 

 abundant water supply. Indeed in 1909 there was more rainfall 

 than the crop needed. Because of the long continued cold wet 

 weather and early frost the yield was reduced materially. The 

 results as given in the following table show no practical ad- 

 vantage of one method over the other so far as yield is con- 

 cerned. 



Table showing comparison of medium planted, broad lozv ridge 

 zvith shallow planted high ridge in Aroostook County. Total 

 area in experiments i^ acres. 



Method of Culture. 



Year. 



Variety. 



Yield of 

 mercliant- 



able 

 potatoes 

 per acre. 



Medium planted 

 Medium ridge . . 



Shallow planted 

 High ridge 



1907 jGreen Mountain. 



1908 Green Mountain. 



1909 Green Mountain. 



1907 

 190? 

 1909 



Av erage three years . 



iGreen Mountain. ... 



G reen Mountain 



Green Mountain 



Average three years. . 



Bush. 



333 

 301 

 216 



283 



325 

 291 

 204 



273 



EXPERIMENTS IN KENNEBEC COUNTY. 



The successful growing of potatoes in Aroostook County has 

 greatly stimulated the potato industry over the whole State. 

 The great advance in value of land in Arostook County has led 

 farmers to sell and go to other parts of the State where land 

 has less value. Both of these facts have led to the adoption of 

 Aroostook County methods of potato growing all over the 

 State. It seemed probable that the less rainfall and not infre- 

 quent drouths experienced in the more southern parts of the 

 State might prove unfavorable to growing potatoes with the 

 shallow planting high ridge method of cultivation. With the 

 purchase of Highmoor Farm for the Station an experiment 



