SPECIAL REPORT FOR YEAR. • 3 1 



One of the most productive pure lines is worthy of mention 

 here. This new variety, Maine 357, represents an oat charac- 

 terized by tall stiff straw averaging four feet in height, carry- 

 ing open spreading heads. The grain is white, fairly long, 

 plump and well filled. On two fortieth acre plots during the 

 past season this oat yielded at the rate of 8i 1-2 bushels per 

 acre. 



Besides this new variety known as Maine 357 there are six 

 varieties of equal importance whose yields in 1913 ranged from 

 71 to 75 bushels per acre. All of these varieties originated 

 by the Station are characterized by stiff straw, spreading heads 

 and white plump grain. In 1913 these seven new varieties pro- 

 duced an average yield of 74 bushels of grain per acre. Twen- 

 ty-one commercial varieties representing the best oats obtainable 

 in the seed markets of this country were also tested at High- 

 moor last season. These yielded an average of 62 bushels of 

 grain per acre as compared with 74 bushels produced by the 

 seven varieties originated by the Station. This represents an 

 average increase of nearly 20 per cent, in yield as a result of 

 the breeding work over the best commercial seed. 



Before a final decision is made in regard to these lines it 

 will be necessary to continue the test during another season. At 

 present, suffice it to say, there is a great deal worthy of con- 

 fidence in the strains of oats that have been developed from 

 single plants at Highmoor. 



Corn. 



The work with sweet corn and with field corn (yellow dent) 

 has been continued. The field corn of the Cornforth strim 

 has been bred up to a point where it appears to be a desirable 

 sort for the Maine farmer. The past season was an extremely 

 hard one for corn on account of the cold weather during June. 

 However, a fair proportion of this corn matured in good season 

 and was ready for harv'est in the latter part of September. 



The work with sweet corn suffered more severely from the 

 cold spring. This was chiefly owing to the fact that the plots 

 were on a cold piece of ground. 



The new variety of sweet corn originated by the Station was 

 given a further extended test this year. This variety promises 

 to be superior to any corn now grown in the state for cannin''. 



