26 N- H. EXPERIMKXT STATION [Bulletin 31') 



ficiency of protein and of energy may he the cause of this irregu- 

 larity. 



The whole flock of breeding ewes was drenched with a saturation 

 dose (28 CCS. per ewe) of wheat germ oil two weeks before the 1938 

 mating which was followed up by a dose of 20 ccs. a few days before 

 mating. After mating was begun they were given 10 ccs. every ten 

 days until the middle of January or about a month before lambing 

 where it was deemed unwise to subject them to the rather active 

 process of drenching. The rams were likewise treated until the mat- 

 ings were over. The method by which this wheat germ oil was giv- 

 en is described by Dr. Martin on ])age -14. 



It seems difficult, from the results, to attribute any specific effect 

 toward an increase in twinning from wheat germ oil. The percent- 

 age of lambs from 48 adult and 16 yearling ewes in 1938 was 148 as 

 against 146 per cent from 30 adult and 25 yearling ewes in 1939. Of 

 25 adult individuals which were bred both in 1938 and 1939. 11 i:)ro- 

 duced twins and 4 produced singles in both years. 4 which dropped 

 twins in 1938 produced singles in 1939, and 6 which produced singles 

 in 1938 droj-tped twins in 1939. This trend toward decrease in twin 

 production of the flock as a whole was ai^parently due to the greater 

 proportion of yearling or first lamb ewes in 1939. the controlling 

 factors being fundamentally of a hereditary rather than of a nutri- 

 tional nature. Certainly this cannot as yet be taken as ])roof that 

 materializing the inherent fertilit}- in sheep is any less dependent on 

 an adequate su]-)ply of any one of the recognized reproductive vita- 

 mins which have been shown to be essential for reproduction hv the 

 rat. 



With our almost entire lack of knowledge regarding the effect of 

 variations in soil and seasonal variations in rainfall, temperature, 

 etc.. on the nutritive value of our grazing lands and fodder crops it 

 rather em])hasizes the fact that fundamental knowledge of the jirob- 

 a1)le physiological requirements of livestock has outstripped knowl- 

 edge concerning the character of their food sui")ply. (Adams Fund) 



Botany 



Plant Injuries Caused by Lime Sulphur Sprays 



Bean ])lants s])rayed with 1 per cent flotation sulplnn- outyielded 

 the non-si)rayed plants, reports O. R. liutler. The j)lants s])rayed 

 with 2 per cent flotation suljihur yielded less than the non-sprayed 

 ]ilants. 



I'otatoes grown at a mean temperature of 16° C. and sprayed 4 

 times with lime-suli^luu' solution 1-50 showed a reduction of cro]i 

 yield of 9.78 i»er cent diu' to sj^raxing. (Adnyna Fund) 



Effect of Soil Moisture and Fertilizer Placement on the Vitality of 

 the Potato Seed Piece 



.Seed ])ieces from the distal end of potato tubers were used in clay 

 loam and sandy loam at two mean-growing temperatures, 19.3° C. 

 and 14.3" C. Fertilizer treatments for each were: no fertilizer, fer- 

 tilizer 28 gnis. per jtlant (1000 lbs. per acre) spread in a circular band 



