22 N. H. Agr. Experiment Station [Bulletin 304 



During the 1937 season Cheshire County has been completed by 

 C. S. Simmons and W. H. Lyford and the report for Sullivan-Cheshire 

 is now being prepared for publication in one report. The Hillsboro 

 County survey has been begun. 



The Coos County survey has also been completed during 1937 by 

 B. H. Williams, W. H. Coates and P. N. Scripture, and the report is 

 now being written. {Purnell Fund in cooperation ivith the Bureau of 

 Chemistry and Soils, U. S. D. A.) 



Grass Experiments in Hay Topdressing 



A four-year average of plots on the Mathes Field in Durham shows 

 that Cal nitro has produced more hay than any other nitrogen carrier. 

 This is, however, closely followed by sulphate of ammonia, nitrate of 

 soda, cyanamid and calcium nitrate. Amounts of nitrogen used were 

 32 pounds per acre. Cyanamid was applied as early as possible, usually 

 about March 30, sulphate of ammonia about April 5 and the other car- 

 riers as near April 15 as weather would permit. 



One hundred pounds of nitrate of soda gave more increase in hay 

 per unit of nitrogen applied than either the 200- or 400-pound applica- 

 tions. 



Nitrate applied April 25 was found superior to that applied either 

 April 15 or April 5. 



A home-mixed 8-6-6, compounded with Ammo Phos A and nitrate of 

 potash with extra nitrogen from Cal nitro, gave better returns than a 

 commercial 8-6-6. On this soil, phosphorus and potash have produced 

 a larger increase in hay than these same elements on a similar sward at 

 Greenland. {Hatch Fund) 



Silage Corn Variety Tests 



Tests of silage corn varieties by L. J. Higgins at the Whenal Farm, 

 Greenland, showed that some of the early maturing varieties had a much 

 higher percentage of dry matter but the yield of dry matter per acre 

 was low due to the small growth and yield of silage. With some of the 

 later and more rank growing varieties, although the percentage of dry 

 matter was low, the greater yield raised the amount of dry matter per 

 acre to a higher average than the early maturing varieties. It would 

 seem that high yielding silage varieties not only give more succulence but 

 also return more dry matter per acre. Top varieties in order of dry 

 matter per acre were E. Eureka Ensilage, Sure Crop (55147), Pamun- 

 key, Tuxpan and Virginia Eureka. {Hatch Fund) 



Soil Testing and Recommendations for Tests 



For several years a soil testing service has been maintained at the 

 Experiment Station which takes care of soil samples sent in by county 

 agents and farmers. The Agricultural Conservation Program has oc- 

 casioned the sending in of more samples than usual during 1937. From 

 Jan. 1 to Nov. 15, more than 3,000 samples have been tested. Recom- 

 mendations for more than 2,000 samples were made in the past fiscal 

 year. During July, 1937, a soil testing school was held for county 

 agents where they were instructed on how to interpret the tests and 



