June, 1939] Agricultural Research in N. H. 5 



potassium and nitrogen is an important factor in the growth of 

 plants. (Adams Fund) 



Carbohydrates in Timothy 

 Work has been begun by T. G. Phillips and T. 0. Smith on a new 

 project, the object of which is to determine the chemical composition 

 of timothy, especially in regard to its carbohydrates. (Adams 

 Fund) 



Inspection of Feeding Stuffs and Fertilizers 



In the enforcement of the law regulating the sale of concentrated 

 commercial feeding stuffs, 400 brands were analyzed by the depart- 

 ment of agricultural chemistry for the State Department of Agri- 

 culture. These analyses required about 3,000 individual determina- 

 tions. Brands of commercial fertilizers, 103 in all, were also 

 analyzed for the state, and required about 760 determinations. 

 (Miscellaneous Income) 



Chemical Services to Residents of the State 



The testing of soil samples has been continued. From July first, 

 1937, to June 30, 1938, the number of sam.ples received and tested 

 was 2,596. Feeding stuffs, fertilizers and other miscellaneous mate- 

 rials to the number of 135 have been analyzed for residents of the 

 state. This work required 440 individual determinations. 



Budgeting the Orchard 



Items of expense in connection with developing a fruit orchard 

 including labor, materials, and use of equipment have been plotted 

 over a 60-year period by H. C. Woodworth and assistants. The 

 resulting curves are based upon records of New Hampshire orchards 

 modified to accord with the experience of successful orchard men. 



The yearly yields of apples which could be expected in the 60-year 

 period were also plotted. Assuming a land charge of five per cent 

 for interest and two per cent for taxes, the use of land would require 

 eight cents per bushel of apples produced during the commercial life 

 of the orchard. This is reduced to 5.9 cents per bushel when semi- 

 permanents are planted and one half of these taken out at the end of 

 25 years. It is further reduced to 4.6 cents when fillers are planted 

 and taken out at the end of the 18th year. Since the other costs are 

 largely associated with expenses per tree, it was noted that the 

 planting of permanent trees without semi-permanents or fillers is 

 the most economic practice when land is low in value. (Purnell 

 Fund) 



Land Utilization in Grafton County 



As compared to central and southern New Hampshire, holdings in 

 Grafton county are larger and local people own and occupy a smaller 

 proportion of the total acreage. In Dorchester, for example, there 

 are 27,953 acres under private ownership which are divided into 196 

 tracts. Of these, 41 were classified as farms containing a total of 

 3,869 acres ; 113 were forest tracts containing 20,181 acres ; six 

 including 631 acres were classified as places vacant but buildings 

 habitable ; nine tracts comprising 1,219 acres were vacant with build- 

 ings in ruins ; one tract of 46 acres was classified as a mine ; 26 were 

 summer homes with a total of 2,007 acres. Onlj^ 37 tracts containing 

 3,568 acres were occupied by local residents. 



