42 Maine Agricultural Experiment Station. 1919. 



each year but it makes the experiment better in that the effects 

 of unfavorable weather conditions of any single year are mini- 

 mized. The field selected for the location of the plots contains 

 about 5 acres. It is isolated from the other cultivated fields 

 on the farm. It has a gentle slope toward the west. 



The plots are in 3 series : A, consisting of 33 plots, one 

 extra check plot being added to this series, B, 32 plots and C, 

 32 plots. The several plots in each series are separated by 

 pathways 2>3 inches wide running lengthwise and 36 inches 

 wide running crosswise, while the different series are separated 

 by roadways 6 feet in width, running lengthwise. The ar- 

 rangement of the plots in the field is shown in Figure 9 on 

 page 41. 



For convenience of reference the plots are numbered by 

 row and by plot. Thus plot 11 is the first plot in the first row, 

 while plot 36 is the sixth plot in the third row. 



Outline of the Experiment. 



The field was in potatoes in 1914 and fertilizer was used 

 at the rate of 1500 pounds per acre of a 5-8-7 fertilizer. In 



1915, it was seeded to timothy and oats. In 1915 the land 

 where this soil test now is was used for a trial of a commercial 

 bacterial culture for root tubercles on legumes. At seeding, 

 the land where Series A and C now are received 5-8-7 fertili- 

 zer at the rate of 500 pounds per acre. To Series B muriate 

 of potash at the rate of 150 pounds per acre and acid phos- 

 phate at the rate of 300 pounds per acre were applied. In 191 6 

 no fertilizer was applied. 



The field was plowed shortly after cutting the grass in 



1916. Early in the spring of 1917 the 97 plots required to 

 carry on this experiment were surveyed, ecah plot being 1 

 rod wide by 4 rods long, or one-fortieth of an acre in area. 

 The bounds are marked by permanent posts. 



In 1917 Series A was planted to potatoes, Series B was 

 seeded to oats and clover, and Series C was in clover. In 1918 

 Series C was in potatoes, Series A seeded with oats and clover, 

 and Series B was in clover. 



The full fertilizer application (see page 39) is used on 

 the Series where potatoes are the crop, one-fourth the full 



