ANNUAL REPORT, 1946-47 9 



fore, that in large "blow-out" areas, parallel fences be placed perpendicular to 

 the prevailing wind, one at each end of the "blow-out." 



Farm Fish Ponds. Considerable interest has been show n by farmers who are 

 adopting soil conservation practices in building fish ponds on their farms. In 

 the South and West, farm fish ponds are common and successful. In New Eng- 

 land this is a new venture and studies are being made to determine the kinds of 

 fish and rate and type of fertilization that should be recommended for the various 

 types of farm ponds constructed. Very little is known about the yield and rate 

 of growth of self-propagating fish in this vicinity. Information of this nature is 

 greatly desired, especially in regard to species of trout. 



Investigation 'of Beach Grass. The American or native beach grass {Ammo- 

 phila brcviligiilata) found commonly on Cape Cod has been used with various 

 degrees of success in the stabilization of beach areas and coastal sand dunes. 

 Recently machinery has been developed for the rapid transplanting of beach 

 grass plants, and this has made it of economic importance to obtain transplants 

 in sufficient quantity'. Studies are in progress to determine what response beach 

 grass will make to fertilization, in the natural state and when propagated; and 

 to find feasible methods of encouraging the growth and increasing the rate of 

 propagation of natural stands in order ihat they may eventually be used com- 

 merciall}' as transplants. 



Black Root Rot of Tobacco. (C. V. Kightlinger.) The purpose of this project 

 is to improve Havana Seed tobacco by breeding new strains that will produce 

 tobacco leaf of better type and quality in more profitable amounts than existing 

 strains of Havana Seed. Special emphasis is being placed on breeding new strains 

 that are highly resistant to black root rot and capable of producing tobacco of 

 acceptable type and quality in profitable amounts on black root-rot infested land. 



Havana 211, Havana Kl, Havana K2, and Havana K2-24 seem to be the best 

 of the new strains produced so far. Thej' yield well under most black root-rot 

 conditions, as well as under more favorable growing conditions, and are accept- 

 able to most growers for yielding capacity. However, owing to their larger size, 

 these strams require greater care than many farmers are accustomed to use in 

 preparing tobacco for harvesting and in harvesting and curing it; consequently 

 they are sometimes not fully acceptable to the tobacco trade for quality. Better 

 preparation for harvesting, more careful harvesting, and better curing of tobacco, 

 regardless of whether it be the new strains or common Havana Seed, would pro- 

 duce tobacco of better type and quality and often of greater weight, thus resulting 

 in more profit to both the tobacco trade and the producer, especially the latter. 



Some differences exist among these new strains. Havana 211 will usually 

 outyield the others under similar growing conditions, especially under favorable 

 conditions. Havana Kl and K2 usually outj'ield Havana K2-24, especially 

 under favorable growing conditions. Havana K2 and Havana K2-24, usuall}' 

 sort out in approximately the same percentage of weights per grade as does well- 

 grown and well-cured common Havana Seed; while Havana 211 and Havana Kl 

 usually sort out a higher percentage weight of light wrappers and seconds grades. 

 One part of the tobacco trade seems to prefer Havana K2 and Havana K2-24 

 because they produce tobacco that resembles common Havana Seed so closely 

 in t^'pe and quality-. The other part of the trade seems to prefer Havana 211 

 and Havana Kl because they produce the greater amounts of so-called light to- 

 bacco. Further trials are needed to ascertain just how acceptable these strains 

 may become with the tobacco trade and which of the strains ma>' gain general 

 preference. Better curing practices on the part of many farmers who grow these 

 new strains may change present tendencies for preference of strains on the part 

 of the trade. 



