ANNUAL REPORT, 1940 15 



plant in the early spring when there is plenty of moisture in the sand 

 three- to five-year-old pine trees in rows about three feet apart in either 

 direction. Various species, such as Pinus sylvestris, P. mughiis, P. austriaca, 

 and P. rtgida, have been used effectively in establishing permanent cover over 

 the dunes. The Austrian pine has been found preferable to the Scotch pine 

 (P. sylvestris) for this region, since it seems to withstand the cold winters ex- 

 perienced at the Cape better than any other tree that has been tried. 



In certain localities where the wind tends to blow out the embank- 

 ments of roads it is expedient to sod with hog cranberry or beach grass 

 a continuous strip two or three feet wide, parallel to the edge of the road. 

 In some instances it has been found practical to spread a thick layer of 

 native grass hay on the active wind-blown road embankments. This acts 

 as a protective mulch for germinating the seed that is present in the hay 

 or that is blown in. 



Seeds of such native plants as sand peas, sumac, and Scotch broom, 

 when sown broadcast on the sand in places where the wind is not too 

 severe, germinate and produce a very desirable cover. To a lesser extent 

 transplantation of bayberry shrubs can be useful in forming a protective 

 marginal planting and windbreak where the wind has started to expose 

 roots of previously planted trees. On the other hand, the beach plum, 

 which is quite common, should not be encouraged since it is a host to 

 many insects which are harmful to the more desirable types of trees. 



The photograph on page 57, taken at Wellfleet, shows the characteristic 

 way in which hog cranberry is adapted for controlling slope erosion on 

 the sandy hills and roadside embankments at Cape Cod. 



Trials with Improved Strains of Hay and Pasture Species. (W. G. 



Colby.) Nursery trials and small-plot experiments carried on for the last 

 three years with several hundred strains of grasses and legumes indicate 

 that some of these strains have definite merit and should be given wider 

 trials over the state. Included in this group of superior plants are strains 

 of Timothy, Orchard Grass, Meadow Fescue, Perennial Ryegrass, and 

 Medium Red Clover. 



Timothy. The following selections obtained from Professor Morgan W. 

 Evans at Wooster, Ohio, gave superior performance: 



F. C. 11,901: This is a very early-maturing strain, vigorous in growth, 

 moderately leafy, and producing a good aftermath growth if weather 

 conditions are favorable. It reaches the "bloom" stage about the 20th 

 of June. 



F. C. 15,167: This selection matures about a month later than F. C. 

 11,901. It is a dark green, leafy strain which produces a good yield of 

 hay but not much aftermath. 



Orchard Grass. The aggressive growth habits of orchard grass together 

 with its early maturity have been some of the undesirable features which 

 have hindered its more general use. The following improved strains have 

 overcome, to some extent at least, some of these undesirable features. 



Aberystwyth S. 37: This is a very leafy strain which produces a dense 

 vigorous growth. Relatively few seed stalks are produced and these reach 

 maturity about ten days later than the seed stalks of commercial strains 

 of orchard grass. The use of this strain both in hay and pasture mixtures 

 seems promising. 



Finnish Commercial: A strain of orchard grass obtained from a com- 



