44 EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 351 



A Study of Pasture Species under New Hampshire Conditions 



This project is concerned with both the breeding and testing of va- 

 rious species and strains of potential pasture grasses. 



I. Breeding Work 



The breeding phase of this work has progressed with three species, 

 timothy, red clover, and \\ hite clover. 



A. Timothy: Enough seed was available from two strains of timo- 

 thy to make small plantings in the field and for seeding in small plots in 

 the nursery. Two types were selected for this experiment. One was a 

 tall growing strain of late hay and the other was a shorter but vigorous 

 pasture type which develops an abundance of basal leaves. There are 40 

 parent plants in the late hay type and 25 in the pasture type. 



Seed has been saved from each of the parent plants in both cases and 

 some of it has been bulked for field multiplication. This year, seed from 

 each plant will be sown in small individual plots for observation and per- 

 haps for recording yields. 



The bulk seed sown in small plots in the autumn of 1941 was pro- 

 duced in the greenhouse during the latter part of the following winter. 

 These plots were divided into four parts, one of which was clipped each 

 week, one every two weeks, one ever\' month, and the fourth section was 

 allowed to mature. The pasture type showed a relatively greater power 

 of recuperation after clipping, especially w hen clippings were more fre- 

 quent. 



Seed of both these strains are to be multiplied as rapidly as possible, 

 because they may have specific value for at least a limited area of New 

 England. It is planned to seek further improvement by adding desirable 

 plant material to these strains and to eliminate undesirable plant material. 



B. Red Clover: During the winter of 1941-42 about 60 reciprocal 

 crosses were made in the greenhouse among the F^ progeny of the twelve 

 original families of red clover that showed some perennial characteristics. 

 In the summer the seed was. scarified, planted in plots, and later the plants 

 were set in the field. Since there was some loss in the spaced plants due 

 to winter killing, some of these plants were set in drills about six inches 

 apart to see if this loss could be reduced. Other plants were set in checks 

 about two feet apart and mulched with straw in late fall. 



The third season's harvest of seed was taken from the first planting of 

 these perennial families. In the late summer, plants were selected, potted 

 and placed in the greenhouse for further crossing during the winter. 



C. White Clover: During the past years large, hardy, wild native, 

 white clover and Ladino plants have been chosen and crossed artificially. 

 The Fi generation was started in the greenhouse early in 1941 and set out 

 in the field during July. In October cuttings were taken from 14 of the 

 plants that were the leafiest and most vigorous. These were removed to 

 the greenhouse and during the winter backcrosses were made with Ladino 

 parents from a field seeded in 1937. Seeds from these crosses were planted 

 in the greenhouse last spring and 285 seedlings representing the Fo gene- 

 ration were transplanted to the nursery in the summer of 1942. Cuttings 

 were taken from the most desirable of these last autumn and removed to 

 the greenhouse. These will be backcrossed with Ladino. 



