12 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 428 



at the seedling stage indicating chromosomal aberrations, but the leaves and the 

 subsequent adventitious roots produced were normal. No tetraploids were ob- 

 served in mature plants. 



Over 50 percent of the bulbs from the first generation inbred strains having 

 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 seed stalks per plants produced 3 or 4 seed stalks. The size of the 

 bulbs, storage temperature, cultural practices, and weather conditions, as well 

 as the genetic constitution of the strains, affect the keeping quality of bulbs, 

 seed stalk development, and amount of seed produced. 



Preliminary evidence tends to show that applications of borax at the rate of 

 30 to 50 pounds per acre did not prevent pink-root or fusarium bulb rot of grow- 

 ing onions, or increase the amount of seed produced by mother bulbs. How- 

 ever, it seems that borax may possibly have some subsequent beneficial effect 

 on the keeping quality of stored onions At least in these trials the sets grown 

 on borax-treated plots produced onions that kept better in storage, had brighter, 

 more uniformly colored skin, and a more presentable appearance than did the 

 onions grown from sets produced on untreated plots. 



Seed from an improved strain was introduced last year to be tested by a com- 

 mercial onion grower. The test is still in progress. However, the strain appears 

 to be promising. 



Experiments at Amherst with Hay and Pasture Seeding Mixtures. (W. G. 



Colby.) One of the principal objectives of these trials was to study the per- 

 formance of different grass species and strains when seeded in combination with 

 ladino clover alone and with ladino clover and alfalfa. It was hoped that strains 

 of grass could be found which would be more satisfactory when grown with 

 either one or both of these legumes than those now in general use; but even if 

 superior strains were not found, it was thought that much valuable information 

 might be secured which would be helpful in the development of a successful grass 

 breeding program. Significant progress has been made in both directions. In 

 these trials the following strains of orchard grass, meadow fescue, and perennial 

 rye grass gave outstanding performance: orchard grass — S 26, S 37, and Finnish 

 late hay; meadow fescue — Svalof Early and Otofte; perennial rye grass — O.A.C. 

 No, 1 (now called Peron) A description of the experimental layout for this work 

 has been given in a previous report (Mass. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bui. 388:14-15. 1942). 



Breeding objectives hav'e been formulated and breeding material has been 

 isolated for further improving one already promising strain of orchard grass. 

 It is probable that similar work will be attempted with certain strains of smooth 

 brome grass. 



As these different seeding mixtures have been observed from >ear to 3'ear 

 (the plots are in their fifth harvest season), it has become increasingly evident 

 that the performance of each mixture as well as each strain is influenced by many 

 different factors. Among the most important of these are soil fertility relation- 

 ships, including fertilizer practices; the nature of the original seeding mixture; 

 the cultural management, including grazing management practices; and finally, 

 the weather. In predicting the performance of a given hay or pasture strain of 

 grass with ladino clover or alfalfa, the influence and relative importance of each 

 of the above factors should be borne in mind. 



Field Brome Grass (Bromus arvensis) for Poultry Ranges. (W. G. Colby.) 

 Certain poultrymen have use for a grass which, when seeded in late summer or 

 early fall, can be ranged the following spring on through to midsummer. Then, 

 for the purposes of sanitation, they prefer to plow the land and reseed it for 

 range the next season. Preliminary trials indicate that field brome grass can be 

 successfully used in this way. 



