14 N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION. [Bulletin 151 



tion funds has been expended during the past three years for permanent 

 improvements. During the three j r ears previous to July 1, 1900, although no 

 separate account was kept of such improvements, it is estimated that at least 

 §500 per year was expended for that purpose. 



Respectfully submitted, 



F. W. Taylor, 



Agronomist. 



Mr. Jasper F. Eastman, assistant in agronomy, resigned his position, Sep- 

 tember 1, 1909, to take post-graduate work at the University of Illinois. He 

 was succeeded by Mr. W. L. Slate, Jr. (Ohio State University, '09), who now 

 has the position in both station and college. 



In the matter of equipment the most important additions have been the 

 fitting up of a seed-testing room with seed sampler, germinating chamber and 

 sample filing system; also additional units for the filing of experimental data, 

 negatives and photographs, together with other minor tools and conveniences. 



II. HATCH FUND PROJECTS. 



1. Variety Tests of Corn. 



Objects. (1) To determine the comparative yield of corn and stover of the 

 usual varieties of field corn offered by seedsmen and of those commonly 

 grown in various sections of the state. (2) To compare the maturing 

 qualities of the several varieties. (3) To determine the yield per acre, 

 average height, stage of maturity and ratio of ears to stalks of the com- 

 mon varieties of ensilage corn offered by New England seedsmen. (4) 

 To test the theory that a cross between two varieties is more prolific than 

 either of the parents. 



In 1909 twenty varieties of field corn were tested on one-fiftieth-acre plots* 

 The yields varied from 23 to 40.6 bushels per acre. Fifteen of these varieties 

 including both flint and dent types were obtained from the United States 

 Department of Agriculture. This season completed a five-year cooperative 

 test with that department of varieties of field corn. 



A test made in 1909 of five crosses of dent on flint varieties secured in 190S 

 as compared with the average yield of the sire and dam, showed an increase 

 in favor of the cross in every case, the difference varying from 2.4 bushels to 

 11 bushels per acre. 



In 1909 a test of thirteen varieties of ensilage corn on one-twenty-sixth-acre 

 plots was made to determine the comparative yields and maturity. The 

 yields varied from 14 to 18.6 tons per acre and the stage of maturity from to 

 99 per cent. 



In 1910 the variety work consisted in testing out on one-quarter-acre plots 

 the four varieties selected from previous years' tests as being the most promising- 

 In this same year a test was also made on onc-fifteenth-acre plots in duplicate 

 of different qualities of manure and commercial fertilizer per acre on the yield 

 of ensilage corn. The quantity of manure varied from 15 to 30 loads and the 

 fertilizer from 400 to 1,600 pounds per acre. The detailed results of the fore- 



