Agricultural Research in New Hampshire 



ANNUAL REPORT 



of the 



New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, 1937 



J. C. KENDALL, Director 



The existence of a problem indicates the need of education, and fre- 

 quently the first call is for research. Problems come fast these days in 

 agriculture, and research has to keep pace with them. There is a tend- 

 ency observable to demand quick action and speedy publication of re- 

 sults; and in some types of projects, particularly those related to eco- 

 nomics, it may indeed be a case of swift action or none at all. 



Clearly, research should respond to this demand of the times, pro- 

 vided accuracy is not sacrificed in the process. We have frequently 

 placed in the hands of extension workers the result of research as soon 

 as it was "out of the oven." On occasion, members of the staff have 

 left long-time assignments to tackle immediately pressing problems. We 

 have not hesitated, when advisable, to speed publication by means of 

 mimeographing or to present results of work informally at conferences 

 in advance of publication. 



Such an instance this last year was a study of the effect of the Agri- 

 cultural Conservation Program in the state. To what extent is the pro- 

 gram bringing about changes that will make for more permanent and 

 profitable farming? What factors have prevented complete participa- 

 tion of farmers? What practices and what type of program would be 

 most effective in bringing about the best use of land resources ? These 

 questions were of immediate public importance, and a study was pro- 

 jected quickly last summer in representative towns of the state in time 

 to throw some light on the proposed program of the following year. 

 ' On the other hand, it is true that most agricultural research projects 

 can only be satisfactorily consummated over longer periods. The vary- 

 ing influence of different seasons or conditions and the necessity for a 

 complete picture through the accumulation of data, the replication of 

 plots and the calculation of probable errors call for exacting and time- 

 consuming study. The high standards of accurate analysis and cor- 

 rect interpretation of results must not be lowered. 



We are happy to announce the completion of a project agreement 

 with the Soil Conservation Service of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture for the study of soil erosion in the state. A reconnaissance 

 survey of the New England states was carried out in 1934 which showed 

 varying amounts of sheet erosion and some gullying in restricted loca- 

 tions. 



