The Lasting Effect of Minor Elements and the 

 Depressing Effect of Lime on Yield of Oats. 



Samples of timothy were taken for chemical analysis from Paxton soil 

 in Center Strafford. Five years ago these plots were treated with two and 

 five pounds of cobalt per acre as well as with various amounts of fertilizers. 

 The results may be expected to show the lasting effects of these applications. 



Soil samples and plant samples were taken from another series of plots 

 in Northwood. These plots had been seeded to grasses and clovers at high 

 and low rates of fertility with and without lime. Half of the plots were treated 

 with minor elements. The chemical results on these samples will measure the 

 lasting effects of the minor elements. 



When some of these plots were limed, the yield of oats was markedly 

 decreased. To see if this depressing effect occurred with other soils, four 

 different Paxton soils and one Gloucester soil were used in the Greenhouse. 

 On all five soils the two-ton application of lime, as well as the six-ton appli- 

 cation, decreased the yield of oats. As was expected, the oats did not yield 

 as well on the Gloucester soil. 



G. P. Percival, D. Josselyn 



Preservation of Carotene in Legumes and Grasses. 



Samples of timothy, ladino, brome, alsike clover, red clover, and alfalfa 

 were stored as field-cured hay, mow-cured hay, molasses silage, and S0 2 

 and plain silage, with and without packing. Again the advantage of ensiling 

 forage for the preservation of carotene was outstanding. The SO2 packed 

 silage showed the least amount of loss. Untreated packed was in second place 

 with molasses silage a close third. 



G. P. Percival 



OTHER ACTIVE PROJECTS 



The Carbohydrates of Pasture Grasses. 



T. G. Phillips, M. E. Loughlin 



A State-Wide Survey of the Nutritive Value of Home-Canned 

 Fruits and Vegetables in New Hampshire. 



S. R. Shimer, H. P. Shimer. D. Josselyn 



Agricultural Economics 



New Hampshire's Idle Farm Land. 



The following is the summary and recommendations from a bulletin 

 in process: 



The situation varies somewhat from place to place ( the principal vari- 

 ations are presented in studies of six towns), but the following general state- 

 ments seem justified: 



1. The 20 towns studied each had from seven to 37 places containing 

 idle or nearly idle farm land. There was an average of 19 such places and 

 631 tillable acres, plus somewhat less nonwooded pasture, per town. 



2. Some of these places have enough agricultural land for a com- 

 mercial size dairy fann (20 or more cows), more are of doubtful commercial 

 size, but the greatest number are distinctly less than commercial size. 



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