ditioner did not compare favorably with the best of these compost mixtures 

 in aiding crop growth. Commercial fertilizer, with and without lime, did 

 not produce good composts. 



Outdoor wooden bins as containers for composts proved to be superior 

 to pits dug in the soil. Ease of handling and good drainage were important 

 factors here. 



S. Dunn 



The Flora of New Hampshire 



The most important Herbaria have Ijeen canvassed for specimens of 

 woody plants. Plants have also been collected from all parts of New Hamp- 

 shire. Data has been taken with the aim of publishing a much needed review 

 on the flora of the woody plants of the state in the near future. Considerable 

 field work has also been carried on to increase our knowledge of the wild 

 plants in certain parts of New Hampshire. In particular, a fairly successful 

 attempt has been made to locate all of the wild Rhododendron colonies in 

 this area. One woody species, the Inkberry, was found for the first time in 

 New Hampshire last year. It has also been possible to cooperate in our flora 

 investigations with our plant pathologist in some of his studies involving 

 virus in strawberries as well as Ash rust. 



A. R. HODGDON 



New or Unusual Diseases in New Hampshire 



Dutch Elm Disease continued to increase in distribution and severity 

 in 1953. 



Ash leaf rust was very serious in southern New Hampshire in 1953 

 and 1954. 



Needle browning of w^iite pines is prevalent in the young needles this 

 season (1954), apparently due to climatic conditions. No parasitic organism 

 appears to be involved. 



Needle blight of red pines was again serious in 1953. Studies have 

 shown that it is associated with injury by a gall midge. 



Pea root rot was a problem in 1953 and 1954. Preliminary studies in- 

 dicate that a Fusarium is involved. 



A. E. Rich 



OTHER ACTIVE PROJECTS 

 Control of New Hampshire Weeds Using Herbicidal Methods 



A. R. HoDGDON 



Dairy Husbandry 



New Method of Determining Gross Energy and Protein in Plant Ma- 

 terials Shows That Silage Excells Comparable Hay in Nutritive Value 



A new method for determining the protein and the gross energy of 

 silages and other high-moisture containing substances without drying the 

 samples by means of an adiabatic bomb calorimeter has been perfected at the 

 Agricultural Experiment Station. 



The fresh sample is finely pulverized by means of a meat grinder and 

 95 percent ethyl alcohol is used as a primer in burning a weighed amount of 

 the fresh material in the bomb calorimeter to determine the gross energy. 



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