CHAPTEE XI 



GARDEN PLOT EXPERIMENTS 



Many lessons in the school garden are best taught by 

 means of experiments. Convincing results are shown when 

 plots are treated in different waj's, showing a marked contrast 

 in results. Suggestions for a number of such experiments 

 are here given. In each of the trials care should be taken to 

 have the plots of the same size. The treated plot should be 

 like the untreated plot in every particular, except in the one 

 feature under trial. 



1. Spraying for Potato Beetles. — Use a suitable mixture, 

 given in another exercise as three pounds arsenate of lead to 

 fifty gallons of Bordeaux mixture, or fifty gallons of water. 

 The plots for this may be adjacent rows in the garden. Let 

 one row be sprayed in the best manner possible, and the other 

 left unsprayed. Note the effect on the crop and determine the 

 profit gained by a farmer in spraying an acre of potatoes. 



2. Fighting Potato Blight. — If Bordeaux mixture is used 

 in the above trial, a comparison may be made in the matter 

 of blight. Another experiment may be carried on with the 

 poison omitted, or the poison may be applied on both rows 

 and the Bordeaux mixture on only one of them. This would 

 perhaps be the best trial. The yields should again be com- 

 pared and the profit from spraying calcidated. 



3. Deep and Shallow Culture. — In a corn field or sweet 

 corn garden make a comparison of deep and shallow tillage. 

 It is proved by good farmers that shallow tillage is better tlian 

 deep tillage in the cultivation of corn after tlie roots have 

 extended well out from the plants. Ijet tliree or four rows be 

 cultivated by very deep tillage throughout the season. A like 

 number of rows may be cultivated with the shovels, or teeth, 

 set very shallow. Carefully measure the yields from these 



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