ANNUAL REPORT, 1937 15 



will be compared with commercial strains to determine whether or not the breed- 

 ing work of the past two years has really produced any strains of a superior 

 character. 



Some new breeding work was initiated with seed onions. Some 1200 selected 

 bulbs of a late seed strain and 300 selected bulbs of an early seed strain were 

 selfed. This material will serve as foundation stock for a new breeding program 

 for each of these two tj'pes of seed onion. 



Pasture Experiments. (VV. G. Colby.) The schedule of mineral fertilizer 

 applications was maintained on plots in six permanent pastures in Worcester 

 County. In addition to the regular mineral top-dressing treatment, one plot in 

 each of four of the pastures received a heavy top-dressing of manure over one 

 half and a heavy application of a complete fertilizer over the othei half. In the 

 center of each half, a small area (2' x 3') was spaded to a depth of six inches. 

 The whole experimental area, including the spaded plots, was then seeded with a 

 mixture of wild white clover and Ladino clover at the rate of three pounds to the 

 acre. A cage was placed over the spaded areas to prevent grazing of the young 

 clover seedlings. 



The response to the top-dressing applications of mineral fertilizer was evident 

 but was no more pronounced than in previous years. The response to manure as 

 a top-dressing appeared to be greater than the response to mineral fertilizers, 

 but in no case was the difference great. In the small area which was spaded, on 

 the other hand, a dense growth of clover was obtained on both the "complete 

 fertilizer" side and on the "manure" side of the plot. In fact, the clover seeding 

 caught in only those small areas which were spaded. Elsewhere over the experi- 

 mental area, only a few weak plants resulted from the seeding operation. From 

 these trials, it is obvious that the physical condition of the soil in permanent 

 pastures, as well as the supply of available plant food elements, is an important 

 factor in influencing the growth of pasture herbage. 



Breeding Perennial Pasture Plants. (W. G. Colby and Hrant M. Yegian.) 

 Breeding work with perennial pasture plants is for the most part still in the in- 

 ventory stage. Studies are being carried on to determine the range of hereditary 

 variation that exists in our native pasture legumes and grasses, and studies are 

 also being made of the environmental adaptability as well as the range of hered- 

 itary variation of foreign strains of pasture plants. 



Some actual breeding work was begun with Ladino clover by planting a nursery 

 of 2,500 spaced plants, grown from seed. The selection of a Ladino clover strain, 

 possessing greater winter hardiness, is the principal object of this experiment. 



Effect of Fertilizer Ratios on Mowings. (Karol J. Kucinski and Walter S. Eisen- 

 menger.) This experiment is a continuation of one reported previously. It seemed 

 desirable to find out whether the quality and yield of the forage can be improved 

 and the life of the mowing prolonged by the use of fertilizers. A mixed fertilizer 

 with a varying ratio of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, was used. Com- 

 parisons have been made by maintaining two of the nutrients at a constant level 

 and varying the third. Data accumulated for several years have shown a distinct 

 response to increments of nitrogen and potash. Little or no benefit was derived 

 from applied superphosphate. 



The rainfall being plentiful last spring, the response to nitrogen and potash 

 was in line with those of previous years. In the case of phosphoric acid, greater 

 yields were obtained only when the higher level of phosphorus was used. 



Proportion of Mixtures Used in Seeding for Hay. (Ralph W. Donaldson, 

 Karol J. Kucinski and Walter S. Eisenmenger.) Trials of thirteen different hay 



