BULLETIN 269 

 BARN AND FIELD EXPERIMENTS IN 1917. 



REPORTED BY CHAS. D. WOODS. 



The work of investigation at the two Experiment Station 

 farms (Aroostook Farm, Presque Isle, and Highmoor Farm, 

 Monmouth) is planned by the Director, the Biologists, the Plant 

 Pathologist and the Entomologist. The results of the more 

 scientific phases of the studies are reported from time to time 

 in the bulletins, but it always happens that there are results 

 obtained that lie somewhat outside of the lines of work of any 

 of the Station specialists. Some of the more popular and prac- 

 tical results are here reported. The carrying out of these ex- 

 periments and the taking of the requisite notes devolved upon 

 different members of the Staff. 



ARE SWINE PROFITABLE IN WINTER? 



In the winter of 191 5-1 6 an experiment was undertaken on 

 the care of manure. This was reported in Bulletin 260. In 

 that experiment it was necessary to keep the manure well 

 worked over and at the same time compacted so as to prevent 

 losses from heating. As it was thought that swine might do 

 this work at a less cost than for man labor, pigs were kept 

 upon the manure. An exact account of feed and time for care 

 was made and it was found after making allowances for certain 

 unusual losses that the swine had been kept at a profit of about 

 15 per cent on the total investment. As the manure pit was 

 maintained in the same way in the winter of 1916-17 an account 

 of income and out go Mas kept as follows : 



November 5, 1916, 16 eight weeks old pigs were purchased 

 for $3 each, placed upon the manure and kept there until they 

 were sold May 21, 1917. The swine were fed and handled as. 



