AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 113 



Experiments with Grasses. 



In Experiment Station Report, 1889, p. 161, will be found a 

 consideration of forage plants tested on small plots to determine 

 their adaptability to the soil and climate of Maine. On page 169 

 of the same Report is a table of the most promising ones. Of 

 these, eleven kinds were selected the past season and grown in 

 one-eight acre plots, and next season a record will be kept regard- 

 ing them. 



SPRAYING EXPERIMENTS. 



Apple Scab. 



It was intended to conduct some spraying experiments the past 

 season with copper compounds, to determine their' value in prevent- 

 ing or checking apple scab. For various reasons mentioned below 

 the work was abandoned. Arrangements were made with Mr. F. 

 M. Woodward, Winthrop ; Mr. Chas. S. Pope, Manchester, and 

 Mr. E. F. Purrington, Farmington, to conduct these experiments. 

 The material for the work at Winthrop was ordered early, but by 

 delay in transportation did not reach its destination in time to 

 make the first application before the leaves started. The bloom 

 was so light and the rains so heavy and frequent it was thought 

 best to abandon the work for the season. Mr. Pope writes that 

 he made the first application but a heavy shower washed it off 

 almost immediately, and as the rainy weather continued he did not 

 spray again. One of the difficulties in using these compounds is 

 that they are washed off by rains and the disease is always worse 

 in rainy seasons. The copper compounds are quite rapid in their 

 action upon vegetable spores and would destroy them in a few 

 days. Much good would therefore be done if the compounds 

 remained only a few days before being washed off. Care should be 

 taken to make the applications immediately after showers. These 

 experiments will be conducted another season if possible. The 

 experiments conducted by Prof. Taft in Michigan, and Prof. Goff 

 in Wisconsin, in 1890, and considered in Me. Expt. Sta. Rept.. 

 1889, p. 182, indicate that the copper compounds will materially 

 check this disease and at a very small cost. We would like to 



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