area. Grain variety seeds sold in New Hampshire are now of those varie- 

 ties that have proved their worth in these controlled unhiased trials. 



L. J. HiGGINS 



A Search for Superior Potato Varieties 



Because New Hampshire soils and climate differ from other New Eng- 

 land States, certain potato varieties may do well here, but not elsewhere. 

 An example of this is the unnamed variety known only as B 355-44. This 

 variety makes excellent potato chips, yields well even during dry weather, 

 and has good baking and frying qualities. 



This superior variety is being increased. Certified seed should be avail- 

 able for trial l)y interested New Hampshire growers within the next year 

 or two. 



As a result of tests made under this project in previous years, two 

 varieties, Kennebec and Ontario, are now extensively grown in New 

 Hampshire. 



Each year, approximately 10 new selections are placed in the test 

 plots from the National Potato Breeding Program of the U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. 



P. T. Blood 



Potato Scab on Tubers Grown in Strongly Acid Soils 



During 1952, after growing potatoes for seven years on Worthington 

 loam at Colebrook. the check plot with a pH of 4.7 had 13.5 percent of 

 its tuber yield severely infected with scab (Actiiioniyccs scabies). The 

 previous year at the same pH this plot had only 1 :1.7 percent of its tubers 

 severely infected with scab. This is a tyical example of the vexatious nature 

 of the potato-scab problem when potatoes are grown year after year in 

 the same soil. 



A soil with such a low^ pH generally does not create a scab problem. 

 Yet in intensive potato farming, where potatoes are grown year after year 

 on the same land, the pH-scab relation often goes askew. It has lieen sug- 

 gested by other workers that several factors may be involved, notably 

 organic matter depletion, and the distortion of Ca :K ratios in the soil. 

 The Colebrook plots offer an excellent opportunity for studying these re- 

 lations since they involve treatments with different Ca :K ratios in the 

 fertilizers and at different pH levels. 



L. T. Kardos 



Breeding and Testing of Grasses and Clovers 



Strain tests were conducted in 1952 on ladino clover at Durham and 

 on alfalfa and smooth bromegrass at Greenland. 



Yield data were obtained on seven ladino strains seeded on the Bunker 

 Field in 1949. Breeder's Ladino (FC23608) has performed best for two 

 years, followed closely by certified Oregon Ladino (FC23596). These two 

 strains have exceeded commercial ladino for each year by about 600-700 

 pounds of dry matter per acre. In general, the three California strains in 

 the test have l)een lowest in yield. Certified seed has given better yields than 

 comparable non-certified seed. Forage yields have been closely correlated 

 with percent stand as based on hand separations. 



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