Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-12-16
EXPERIMENT STATIONS WORK
Solving Problems vitality I'm
portant to Vermont Farmers.
Summary Of the Results Accomplished
at state Institution md a state
ment of the Investigations Now
in Progress.

Tho Vermont agricultural experiment
station ia n State established and federal
supported institution located by law at the
State university. Its especial function 3
20 GARRY on experimental work on matters
relating to agriculture. 1t is studying
problems, in the fields. of animal and plant
diseases soil management, fertlilzers'
feeds forestry horticulture, dairy hus-
bandry and seed inspection. A succinct
statement as to some of the recent results
follows:
Horticulture: The yield and control OF
the quality of Hubbard squash has been
studied for four years and probably an
other seasons work will he done. A spe-
cia study is being made of seed selection
from high and low yields and an attempt
has been made to learn whether breed or
season is responsible for the variation In
quality. The results SO far indicate that
the breed is largely responsible. Abou.
two acres of squash have been used.
A cion selection trial on apple trees
taken from high and low yielding trees
has been under way for five years and
will continue for 10 to IS years more.
About 20 trees on the college farm are
used and more than 200 cions have been
grated from trees of known low or known
high Yields, from standard varieties sucn
as Northern Spy. Wealthy Rhode Island
Greening, Pound Sweet. Fameuse and Pat
ten Greening.
The federal government requires that
certain station investigations shall ne
made in pure science. Along this line a
breeding problem in the sterility Of the
wberry has been studied in the green
house and out of doors, using 1500 seed
lings The whole problem of sterility is
an acute one in fruit growing and many
men in many regions are at work on its
various phases.
Another scientific experiment deals with
plant forcing by the use of carbonic acid
gas; fertilization by way of air instead of
the soil. Lettuce. radishes beans. peas
and certain flowers are used. This trial
has been under way for five years and
probably will last another year In some
instances gains of $50 to 200 per cent. have
been noted. but the average gain is from
go to 70 per cent.
Animal Husbandry: The effects on the
milk flow of low, medium and high
amounts of food protein have been stud
led, as well as the results attained in long
time feeding experiments as compared
with those of shorter duration. These eX-
periments were started nine years age
and will run two more years. Grade Jer-
seys have been used. The proportion OF
grain to roughage has been kept con
ptant Apparently no marked advantage
Is gained in terms of increased milk
yields or improved quality from the feed
Ing Of large amounts of protein although
It appears that cows fed large amounts
Of protein place little more protein il
The milk. The maintenance Requirement
Of dairy cows and food cost of foetus de
velopment have been studied for eigh
years. An attempt was made to stat
the growth in terms of food and to deter
mine what proportion of food goes t.
maintenance. milk and to foetus forma
ton. An attempt has been made to deter
mine the gain or loss in weight al relate,
to the food which the cows consume al
Important matter in meat production. n,
definite result has been secured thus fa1