92 MAINK AGRICULTURAL LXPKRIMLNT STATION. 1909. 



The averages for the 2 years (omitting plot 2 of 1907 experi- 

 ment ) are : 



High ridge culture 114 barrels 



Modified ridge culture 117 barrels 



In these two seasons there was nothing to chose between the 

 two methods so far as yield was concerned. It is planned to 

 continue this experiment on the same farm in 1909. 



A Test of Blight Resistant Varieties oe Potatoes. 



About 1903 Prof. William Stuart of the Vermont Experi- 

 ment Station began a study of disease resistant potatoes. After 

 some little progress had been made, the scope of the investiga- 

 tion was enlarged and extended in cooperation with the Bureau 

 of Plant Industry of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. In 

 1904, Prof. L. R. Jones, the Botanist of the Vermont Station 

 was in Europe as special agent of the Department of Agricul- 

 ture and made a study of the blight resistant varieties of pota- 

 toes that were in cultivation in England and on the continent 

 particularly in Germany and Holland. A large number of the 

 more promising varieties were brought to America and were 

 grown for 3 years at the Vermont Experiment Station in cooper- 

 ation with the Bureau of Plant Industry. Quite a number of 

 American varieties were grown in comparison with the Euro- 

 pean varieties. 



Twenty-seven of these varieties which seemed to be the most 

 hopeful were sent to this Station in the Spring of 1908 for test- 

 ing as to their disease resistance in the Maine climate. There 

 was also grown in comparison with these, a selected Green 

 Mountain which Mr. J. W. Lowell of Gardiner originated by 

 selection over a period of several years. The numbers with the 

 exception of that given to the Lowell Green Mountain are the 

 original Vermont Station numbers. 



The numbers included between 501 and 517 originated in Ger- 

 many, 523 in Holland, the numbers between 540 and 597 were 

 all of English origin, and the others are of American origin. 

 The amount of seed that was sent varied so greatly (from lo- 

 pounds to 120 pounds) that it was not practicable to grow these 

 varieties for a yield test. They were therefore grown to study 

 their blight resistant qualities and to form as one best might a 



