growth of alfalfa on at least 50 per 

 cent of the soils of New Hampshire 

 according to studies made during 

 the past year. In this study 12 of 

 the major soil series were sampled 

 under virgin conditions and sub- 

 jected to tests for water soluble and 

 total boron. The A horizons, or 

 top-soils, of half of these series had 

 less water-soluble boron than is re- 

 garded as being necessary for proper 

 growth of alfalfa, while three-quart- 

 ers of the sub-soils on B horizons 

 mdicate a deficiency of boron in 

 water-soluble form. 



Since alfalfa and other legumes, 

 as well as apple orchards and cer- 

 tain vegetable crops, have relatively 

 high boron needs, this work seems to 

 have a rather wide application. 



Samples from the same soil series 

 are now being studied with respect 

 to the status of the potash, magnes- 

 ium, calcium, and hydrogen. Since 

 nmch of the state has been, or is 

 being mapped in the Soil Survey, 

 it is hoped to build up a supply of 

 information about the different soil 

 series in order that specific recom- 

 mendations can be made for their 

 successful fertilization and manage- 



ment. 



L. T. Kardos 



Hoiv Long Does Lime Last? That 

 liming the land is a practice lead- 

 ing to permanent soil improvement 

 is shown by hay yields on the When- 

 al farm in Greenland, in 1948 and 

 1949. This land was limed in 1925 

 and no lime has been applied since. 

 The yields of hay for the two years 

 were as follows: 



No lime 2.20 T. per acre 



2 T. lime 1925 4.85 T. per acre 



4 T. lime 1925 5.40 T. per acre 



These yields were obtained on a 

 seeding of red clover made in 1947. 



The land was plowed, planted, and 

 fertilized uniformly, the only differ- 

 ence being the lime variables that 

 had been applied 22 years before the 

 seeding was made. 



F. S. Prince 



P. T. Blood 



Soil Survey Work Progresses. The 

 Soil Survey of the soils of New 

 Hampshire now completed for six 

 counties, and in progress in one 

 additional county, gives an inventory 

 of the kind, amount, and location of 

 the different soils in the state. In 

 the written report which accompan- 

 ies the soil map, each soil is describ- 

 ed, its crop adaptations are present- 

 ed, and optimum yields and desir- 

 able soil management practices are 

 explained. 



Surveys of over two-thirds of the 

 state have been completed, with 

 6,450 square miles done and ap- 

 proximately 2,450 square miles left 

 to do. Approximately 40 square 

 miles were mapped during the past 

 year in Rockingham county. In co- 

 operation with the U. S. Department 

 of Agriculture, Soil Survey reports 

 have been published for Grafton 

 county in 1939, Coos county in 

 1943, and Strafford countv in Janu- 

 ary, 1949. Publication of the re- 

 ports for the Sullivan-Cheshire area 

 are expected during 1949, and for 

 Hillsborough county in 1950. 



The Paxton and Marlow soils 

 found in southern New Hampshire 

 are the best soils for apple orchards. 

 These soils are well-drained, loam 

 textured, and developed on egg- 

 shaped (drumlin) hills, affording ex- 

 cellent air drainage. They are also 

 among the better soils for dairy 

 crops. 



R. Feuer 



37 



