each variety is grown at least 3-5 

 years in several replications and in 

 more than one state area before a 

 reconunendation is given. 



Cornell 29-3 continued to be the 

 leading early silage and grain corn 

 variety in the state. If planted late 

 in May, it gives good tonnage for 

 silage even at Lancaster. Massachu- 

 setts 62 and Wisconsin 335 may be 

 substituted. 



As a result of the Lancaster trials, 

 the dent-flint hybrids, Maine B and 

 Wisconsin 240, have matured just 

 as early as have the local flints for 

 grain. Also, the hybrids have given 

 a 5-10 bushel increase in yield. 



In southern New Hampshire, Cor- 

 nell 29-3 matures early enough for 

 grain, along with Massachusetts 62 

 and hybrids of the 300 and 400 Wis- 

 consin series. In some southern up- 

 land areas, dent-flint hybrids or dent 

 hybrids of the 200 Wisconsin series 

 are recommended. 



Because of differences in strain 

 and stalk breakage, the old open pol- 

 linated West Branch Sweepstakes is 

 losing ground as a late silage corn 

 in central and southern New Hamp- 

 shire. Ohio M-L5 and to a lesser de- 

 gree Ohio K-24 are now being used. 

 Wisconsin 692 continues to give a 

 much higher tonnage yield, but ma- 

 tures somewhat later. 



The new dent-sweet hybrids can 

 be used for silage, but not for grain. 

 Under controlled field conditions, 

 these hybrids have topped all previ- 

 ous silage yields, consistently ex- 

 ceeding 25 tons to the acre. They 

 are unfortunately a little late in ma- 



turmg. 



L. J, HiGGINS 



Irrigation to Improve Posture*" 



How to produce enough pasture 

 for the dairy herd in droughty sea- 

 sons is a problem that has bothered 

 many farmers for the past several 

 years. Serious droughts occurred dur- 

 ing the growing seasons from 1947 

 to 1950. During these years, a num- 

 ber of irrigation systems- were pur- 

 chased by New Hampshire farmers. 



To test the effectiveness of irri- 

 gation on pasture production, an 

 overhead irrigation system was in- 

 stalled in 1949. The equipment con- 

 sisted of an OCD pumper with quick 

 connecting aluminum pipe .and small 

 sprinklers, each within an effective 

 radius of approximately 40 feet. 



Drought began in June, 1949, 

 but irrigation was not begun until 

 July 17, The areas to be irrigated 

 included one four-year old piece of 

 ladino and timothy and one two-year 

 old field of ladino, red clover, and 

 timothy. Irrigation water was applied 

 four times or until the moisture con- 

 tent of the soil indicated that irriga- 

 tion was no longer necessary. The 

 content of soil moisture was measured 

 as often as necessary by means of 

 gypsum blocks, randomized over the 

 area, amounting to 500 pounds of a 

 7-7-7, although the land had all been 

 previously treated in May. 



Yield records were obtained by 

 iiieans of four-foot square cages 

 properly replicated over the area. 

 Data were recorded in terms of oven 

 dry material. In the table, the yields 

 from both areas were combined since 

 the response for irrigation was simi- 

 lar on the two sections. 



Treatment 



Fertilized and Irrigated 

 Unfertilized and Irrigated 

 Fertilized but not Irrigated 

 Unfertilized and not Irrigated 



Ijbs. Oven Dry 

 Material Per Acre 



3,321 

 3.237 

 1.748 

 1,097 



Per cent 

 Grass Clover 



87.6 

 80.6 

 94.9 

 93.4 



12.4 



19.4 



5.1 



6.6 



17 



