June 1941] Agricultural Research in New Hampshire 25 



tends to absorb water rapidly. After the soil was frozen, run-off 

 of water was greatly accelerated, but the loss of soil was not severe. 

 Tests run during the winter of 1939-40 show that loss of soil on cul- 

 tivated fields is related to the depth of frost, the length of time the 

 frost is in the ground and the manner in which the soil thaws. The 

 most critical time of the year from the standpoint of soil loss is in 

 the spring when the soil is thawing from the top and slightly from 

 the bottom. Under these conditions the upper soil is essentially in 

 a state of supersaturation and is in ideal condition to be carried away 

 with the run-off. 



Winter rye sown not later than October 1 provides a good pro- 

 tection against early spring erosion on potato land. However, most 

 potatoes are harvested after October 1, and it is questionable if late 

 rye attains enough growth in the average season to protect the soil 

 against early spring erosion. Further tests on rye covering will be 

 conducted next year. 



(Purnell Fund) 



An Experiment in Top-Dressing Old Pasture Lands with Lime and 

 Fertilizer (F. S. Prince, P. T. Blood, G. P. Percival, and P. N. 

 Scripture) 



This project was continued in Stratham and Claremont, with 

 minor changes only. One of the variations involved the delaying of 

 the nitrogen application on the complete fertilizer plots until June 15. 

 On another plot, one-half of the nitrogen was applied at the usual 

 date, about May 1, while the remainder was applied June 15. The ob- 

 ject of the changes was to determine whether the period of nitrogen 

 stimulation can be extended into the summer. 



All of the data accumulated up to the close of the 1939 season 

 were published in station bulletin 320, "Pasture Top-Dressing in New 

 Hampshire," April, 1940. Similar data obtained for the 1940 season 

 show little change. 



(Purnell Fund) 

 Seed Inspection (B. G. Sanborn) 



The regular seed inspection work for the State Department of 

 Agriculture was continued. During the year 704 samples of seed 

 were handled by the laboratory. Of this number, 408 were collected 

 by the state inspector and are reported in station bulletin 328. The 

 remaining 296 samples were sent in by private individuals. 



(Miscellaneous Income) 

 Variety Tests (L. J. Higgins) 



The testing of various strains of silage corn, alfalfa, and soy- 

 beans has been continued. In 1940, twenty-two varieties of corn were 

 planted in replicated, randomized blocks and the number of pounds 

 of dry matter per acre was recorded for each variety at harvest time. 

 Although the data for 1940 show that some of the newer hybrids are 

 promising, the experiment will have to be carried through several 

 more seasons before definite conclusions can be drawn. 



