Agricultural Research in New Hampshire 67 



collection from ornamental plantings, purchased nursery stock, and gifts. 

 Dual-purpose shrubs, those for ornamental use and for edible fruit pro- 

 duction, are being observed from collections of native Beach Plum 

 (Prunus maritima) and selected strains of this plum forwarded from the 

 Hillculture Division of the Soil Conservation Service. A native honey- 

 suckle (Lonicera villosa) has been introduced to observe its usefulness as 

 a food and ornamental plant. Several specimens which are not winter- 

 hardy to this region have been discarded. (H. S. Clapp) 



Chemically Induced Polyploidy 



Methods have been worked out whereby colchicine may be used 

 for the production of polyploids in a number of species. These methods 

 are being used in an attempt to produce useful varieties with several 

 species, particularly cucurbits, lilacs, and members of the genus Rubus. 

 (A. F. Ye ager ) 



Nuts 



Of all nut species native to New r Hampshire, the butternut is the 

 hardiest. It is widely adapted as to soil and climatic requirements. Fol- 

 lowing the butternut contest of 1940, seedlings were grown from nuts 

 judged to have the best eating and cracking quality and transplanted at 

 the horticultural farm. These seedlings are making excellent and uniform 

 growth and are now three to four feet tall. 



Chinese chestnuts planted in 1940 are now about five feet tall and 

 blossomed in the spring of 1942 but set no fruit. 



Winkler hazelnuts, now three years old, have set a good crop of nuts. 

 Five hybrids between native and European hazels are growing well but 

 are not fruiting this year. Cosford, Medium Long, and Italian red, Euro- 

 pean varieties, do not respond so well to our climate as do the others. 

 (A. F. Yeager) 



Poison Ivy 



Poison ivy control experiments were completed this year using 

 ammonium sulfamate. It was found that applications of three-fourths of 

 a pound per gallon of water sprayed on the plants any time when they 

 were in full leaf gave practically 100 per cent kill. Plots sprayed in 1940 

 show no life as yet. It has also been found possible to spray poison ivy 

 on the trunks of trees and kill it without injuring the tree, provided the 

 leaves of the tree are not hit. A paper giving the results of this experi- 

 ment is being published in the Proceedings of the American Society for 

 Horticultural Science. (Horticulture Department) 



