18 X. II. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATIOX. [Bulletin 151 



lated versus uninoculated seed is being tested. A new alfalfa nursery for test- 

 ing seed from different sources as well as individual plants has also been started 

 this fall. 



6. Pasture Improvement. 



Objects. To determine to what extent, by what means and at what expense 

 the average New Hampshire pasture can be improved. 



This experiment was instituted in the spring of 1909. The old cow pasture 

 east of the college library was divided into six sections of approximately equal 

 size, and in such a manner that every section would contain at least two small 

 areas sufficiently free from stones and ledges to permit of their being cut with 

 a lawn mower. The several sections were treated as follows: 



Section 1 used as a check, no treatment given. 



Section 2 harrowed and reseeded. 



Section 3 harrowed, reseeded and limed. 



Section 4 harrowed, reseeded, limed and fertilized. 



Section 5 plowed and reseeded in later summer with no fertilizer. 



Section 6 to be pastured by sheep for three years. 



The harrowing was done with a Cutaway harrow set at such an angle as to 

 cut well, but not to invert too much of the sod, the ground being gone over 

 three times alternately at right angles. The grass seed mixture used per acre 

 was as follows: 



Timothy, 10 lbs. 

 Redtop, 5 lbs. 



Kentucky Bluegrass, 10 lbs. 

 White clover, 5 lbs. 



The lime was the "Rockland-Rockport" brand and was applied at the rate 

 of one ton per acre. 



The fertilizer was made up of 700 lbs. nitrate of soda, 1,000 lbs. ground 

 bone and 300 lbs. muriate of potash and was applied at the rate of 500 lbs. 

 per acre. 



The sixth section was fenced off and pastured by sheep during the seasons 

 of 1909 and 1910 and will be again in 1911. As many sheep are kept on this 

 section as it will support without additional grain feed. A record is being 

 kept of the number of sheep and the length of time they are maintained on 

 the section during each season. The various treatments for sections 2, 3, 4 

 and 5 were given only in the season of 1909, but their effect is to be noted and 

 measured as accurately as possible for at least four years. The cost per acre 

 of each of the several treatments has also been accurately kept. 



As a means of measuring the effect of the several treatments, two of the 

 most uniform spaces in each section, twenty-four feet square, have been 

 fenced around, and in each enclosure an area equal to one-one-hundreth-acre 

 has been measured off. This one-one-hundreth acre is cut as often as neces- 

 sary during the season with a lawn mower, having an apron attached for col- 

 lecting the cut grass. A record of the weight of green grass cut from each 

 enclosed area is kept for each year and this is taken as a result of the amount 

 of pasture furnished by that section for the year. 



