The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-09-01
ME-. SEED IMPROVEMENT.
SOC|ETYS WORK
Confined This Year to Practical Field
Tests to Find Seed Adapted to
Maine.

lestS 10 r1nu Seeu Adapted 70
Maine.
A. S. Cook of Presque Isle, repre-
senting the Maine Department of Ag-
riculture, has visited in turn the Som
erset county members of the Maine
Seed Improvement Association, fin
lshing at Skowhegan on Saturday.
These visits are for the purpose of
getting a close acquaintance with the
work done by each individual mem
Der, and seeing that the proper rec
ords are carefully kept
This Association was organized at
Waterville last January for the pur-
pose of improving the farm crops of
Maine through the introduction and
propagation of superior seeds. The
plan has been exceedingly popular
from the very start. There was a
large attendance at the first meeting,
and a paid membership of nearly 200
was secured without any solicitation.
w. G. Hunton of Readfield Is presi-
dent, and L. s. Merrill of Scion, sec
rotary.
The work this year is confined to
practical field tests, which when COM
pleted, will identify those particular
strains and varieties of seed that are
especially adapted to Maine condi-
tions, and possess genuine merit The
plots under observation vary in size
all the way from a few rods up to
several acres, but on every one the
record will show: Preparation and
fertility of soil; date of planting; time
and per cent of termination; rate of
growth; time of maturity; amount
and quality of yield. These records
taken with the knowledge of the
source of the Seed will give a sure
foundation for next years plans. In
ferior sorts will be discarded, and the
latest knowledge in the plant breed
er's art will be devoted to an effort
to make the best still better.
No pronounced results are antici-
pated short of three years, but from
that time on, there should be marked
gains from year to year. High yields,
early maturity, and superior quality,
each in proper proportion will add
thousands upon thousands of dollars
to the value of Maine crops, without
calling for any addition of either hui
man or animal labor.
There are nine members in Somer-
set county, distributed as follows
Bingham, Ingraham C. Pierce and H.
z. Whipple; Scion, Stephen and L. S.
Merrill; Madison, F. E. Davis; Show
hogan, R. T. Patten; Fairfield, A. H.
Ellis and F. L. Grant; Palmyra, A. P.
Howes.
The Bingham members, Messrs.
Pierce and Whipple are doing prac-
tically identical work. Each has plant
ed about acres of Delaware pota-
toes, and acres of Oderbrucker bar
ley. The seed for the latter was i'm
ported from the Seed Improvement
Association of Wisconsin. The mem
bers there had bred it up to the
point where 40 bushels per acre is
an average yield, and the prospects
are excellent for an equally good
showing here in Maine.
Stephen and L. S. Merrill of Scion
are working with oats, potatoes and
corn. The oats are of the Swedish
variety, the seed having been secured
through the Department of Agrio Ill
ture at Washington. The six acre
field is a beautiful sight. All the
weeds have been carefully pulled out
by hand, and the prospects are ex-
cellent for an exceptional yield. In
the five acre field of potatoes, six rows
through the center stand up in strik-
ing contrast The seed for these was
raised by Frank Lowell of Farming
dale, who by careful selection year
after year has developed a blight re-
sistant strain. The variety is rather
late, but very productive. Three acres
| of flint corn were planted with seed
from Massachusetts grower who
won first prize at the National Corn
Exposition last year. This also is
very promising.
F. E. Davis of Madison is special
izing with potatoes. He has been
working with the tubers several
years. and has actually developed
several varieties from the seed balls
At the time of Mr.. Cooks visit Au-
gust 27, the early variety was actual
ly matured. He also has a. medium
early, an early late, and late vari-
ETY. of his own development. all of
which show desirable characters.
A. H. Ellis of Fairfield is keeping a
performance record on his five acre
field of oats This seed is some of
his own raising, and has given him
Pot Of