Agricultural Research in New Hampshire 33 



Various forest tree leaves from five soil types have been fed to the 

 millipeds as a side project in the field of forest soils, and the results seem 

 to be worthy of publication. This information shows the seasonal acti- 

 vity of the millipeds and the relative palatability of different species of 

 forest tree leaves for food. (W. H. Lyford, Jr.) 



Experiments to Determine Small Grains Adapted to 

 Better Land Use in Northern New Hampshire 



In response to farmers' requests, this project was started in 1941 to 

 find out whether any of the newer oat varieties are superior to those 

 commonly grown in Coos County and to determine also the feasibility 

 of producing barley there in furtherance of the land-use program under 

 way. 



The primary tests were conducted on the "Coffin field" which is 

 under lease by the Experiment Station, and supplementary tests were 

 made on several other farms under the supervision of the County Agri- 

 cultural Agent for Coos County. 



Since most of the farms in Coos County are dairy farms that have 

 an abundant supply of manure, and as any oat seeding is usually planted 

 as a nurse crop, a heavy-yielding variety with a stiff straw is ideal, es- 

 pecially if it is to be left standing for grain. In general, the short-straw 

 varieties lodge less than those with long straw, although there is much 

 difference in stiffness of straw even with the same length. 



Among the varieties grown, the Upright, with some lodging, was 

 outstanding as to yield, the yield running more than twice the rate of 

 some of the lower-yielding varieties. A local strain, picked up from a 

 Colebrook dealer, stood fourth in the test. Three hybrids secured from 

 the Pennsylvania Experiment Station proved to be superior as to lodging 

 as they had very short straw, but they did not yield well. Two varieties 

 from Canada were held up in Customs so long that the harvest date was 

 too long delayed to make the yields worth recording. Seed for these 

 two strains has been secured for the 1942 planting. 



Yields were obtained from most of these varieties by the County 

 Agent on other farms in Coos County. These are presented here, ar- 

 ranged in descending order. 



Yields both from the experimental plots and from farm plots about 

 the county indicated that Upright, Lenroc, and Gopher were consistent- 

 ly at the top in yields, although the "local" variety and Cornellian were 

 close competitors. The latter was second only to Upright in the farm 

 tests. Richland was a rather poor sixth-place winner on the experimental 

 plots and no better on farms. However, it was a week or two earlier 

 than the others, shelled badly, and may have suffered unduly in com- 

 parison as a result. (Ford S. Prince) 



A Survey of the Soils of New Hampshire 



This project was continued in 1941-42 by starting a survey of 

 Rockingham County. A. E. Shearin from the Bureau of Plant Industry, 

 Division of Soil Survey, was assigned to work with local station person- 

 nel. The survey was approximately half completed in 1941; with reason- 

 able weather, the mapping of this county should be finished in 1942. 



