Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-08-30
Valuable Experiments at Highmoor.
THE DEMONSTRATION WORK GOING ON
AT OUR EXPERIMENTAL FARM.

While Highmoor Farm at Monmouth
was purchased for the purpose Of ex'
perimenting in fruit, the soil is 80 varia-
BILE that it has been thought desirable to
use portions of it for experiments with
sheep, swine, oats, corn, potatoes, and
the results of these several experiments
will be watched very carefully.
Ii is we'll that the Pomona Oranges
of the state have each been invited to
spend day at Highmoor and it is to be
hoped as many as can will respond for
the man who goes there with eyes and
ears open will carry home lessons of
value in future operations. In this con-
nection it may oe we'll to give brief
description of some of the experiments.
Take the one that is being made in
potatoes for an illustration. There are
four acres of these tubers under cultiva-
tion, for the purpose of testing the high
hill and the level culture. Ii has long
been mooted question whether pota-
toes can be raised to better advantage
in high hill than at the level with the
ground. 1t is thought this experiment
will settle this problem aud will make
great difference in the future manage
ment of Maine potato raising.
Another experiment which bids fair
to be of great value to the farmers OF
Maine is the testing of oats. They have
81 varieties of that grain representing
the best breeds OF every nation in the
world. Each one of these different
varieties has one-tenth of an acre OF
ground as its own. These are all given
exactly the same fertilizer and the same
cultivation and il remains to be seen
which one will prove the best. 1t is ex.
pected that out of these 81 varieties one
will be found to be especially adapted to
Maine soil, Maine climate, and Maine
fertilizer. This experiment has attacted
much attention among the members OF
the grange.
The orchard experiment has also at
tracted great attention and has proved a
matter of interest to all the guests.
One acre of orchard is set apart and en-
closed for swine. These trees are all
sprayed and are given all possible atten-
tion and the hogs must do the rest. 1t
is expected that they will root over the
ground and all are curious to know
whether this disturbance of the soil will
iniure the small roots.
Just beyond this patch, there is an
other acre wired in and devoted to
sheep. Here we have the same spraying,
the same care, cultivation and pruning,
but the sheep in this case, must do the
rest. OF course, the surface OF the SOIL
will not be disturbed. The sod will not
be broken, but they will eat the grass
very closely to the ground and also eat
all the windfalls. 1t is expected that
this will determine the long discussed
problem as to whether hogs or sheep
are the best for an orchard.
The balance of the main orchard IS
divided into blocks of . rows with SIX
trees to each row and these will receive
different treatment. This particular ex-
periment is to determine the value OF
lime sulphur on the various kinds oil
pests. All of the different lime sulphur
and lime mixtures on the market VIII
receive a careful test and report on their
merits will undoubtedly be made by
Prof. Woods some time during the COM
ing fall or winter.
Still another interesting experiment
is the corn test breeding. This will in
clude not only sweet corn but also the
flint and dent varieties. Here Is an
other question that has long been moot
ed among agricultural workers OF Maine.
Some claim that the dent variety is the
best while other authorities are equally
strenuous in advocating the iint corn as
being the most profitable for the Maine
farmer. 1t is expected and hoped that
this experiment will settle this question
for the agriculture of Maine.
Even this does not tell all the expert
ments that are being made at Highmoor
Farm. Timothy grass is being grown by
a special lawn fertilizer made at the
experiment station. The result of this
has proven TO be great surprise as the
most splendid results thus far have been
obtained. d.-Turf, Farm and Home.