38 University of New Hampshire [Sta. Bui. 330 



any differences which may later appear. In the nursery more com- 

 binations of ring- grafts and interlock were made in order to have 

 these trees ready to set in a trial orchard. 



{Bankhead-J ones Fund') 



Blueberry Improvement and Propagation (W. W. Smith) 



Attempts were made during 1940 to root blueberry cuttings, us- 

 ing Maine peat, a peat which is very similar to that obtained in other 

 sections of the United States. The results were largely negative. 

 German peat, previously used in this work, appears to allow more 

 aeration than native peat, and this characteristic apparently makes it 

 more suitable for rooting blueberry cuttings. 



Collections were made of high bush blueberries growing as far 

 north as Conway. These will be used in future breeding programs 

 to incorporate hardiness into the high bush blueberry plant. 



{Hatch Fund) 

 Vegetable Culture (J. R. Hepler) 



The Blue Hubbard variety of squash was planted on plots of 

 high fertility. The land was covered with manure at the rate of 15 

 tons per acre, and in addition to the manure, various fertilizer treat- 

 ments were used. There was no noticeable difference in the yields of 

 the different plots. Five different insecticides were used on the squash 

 to note their effects on the growth and yield of the plants, and on the 

 control of insects. None of the insecticides controlled the squash bug, 

 which had to be held in check by using the old-fashioned shingle 

 method. There was comparatively little difference in yield among the 

 plots receiving the different insecticide treatments. 



Further experiments were made on the keeping qualities of 

 squash in storage. Four treatments were used : waxing the squash 

 with a commercial wax ; dipping the squash in copper sulphate ; use 

 of formalin solution; and the check. Half of the squash were injured 

 by cutting off the blossom before treatment, and all were stored at a 

 temperature of 45° to 50° F. At the end of three months it was found 

 that approximately 89^ per cent of the weight of the untreated and 

 the copper sulphate-treated squash remained, while about 93 per cent 

 of the weight of the other two treatments remained. Apparently, 

 injuring the squash by cutting off the blossom end had little effect. 



{Hatch Fund) 

 Poison Ivy Control (C. L. Calahan) 



"Atlacide," a sodium chlorate weed killer, and ammonium sul- 

 famate were applied in different concentrations throughout the grow- 

 ing season to vigorous poison ivy plants. Results of the 1940 season 

 indicates that ammonium sulfamate is an effective ivy-killing agent 

 and does not sterilize the soil, as do the sodium compounds. This 

 chemical might prove valuable to destroy ivy growth around orchard 

 trees and may liberate nitrogen enough upon decomposition to be of 

 value to the trees. 



{Hatch Fund) 

 Ornamentals (H. S. Clapp and W. D. Holley) 



