16 EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 354 



The Plan of a Small New England Town in the War and Postwar 

 Economy 



Northwood, an inland New Hampshire town, is contributing a large 

 part of its labor force to war work and other activities outside its borders. 

 Farming has continued to decline, and very little local industry remains. 

 Even the overnight cabins and other recreational activities are closed. 



While the people of Northwood may be more dependent upon em- 

 ployment in near-by cities than before, it is suggested that local resources 

 and local opportunities be surveyed and studied l)y local people. 



Can the dairy farms be comljined or reorganized to afford real oppor- 

 tunities for a limited number of aggressive young men ? Can some of the 

 small industries be revised or new ones created to use local forest products 

 and give employment to a few local people? Can the summer and recrea- 

 tional activities be -expanded and developed ? 



The answers to these questions depend, in large measure, on the in- 

 terest and adoption of local people ; and it is suggested that all the possibil- 

 ities be discussed so that individuals can more easily fit into the available 

 opportunities and so that some definite community oljjectives that will 

 support these activities can be developed. 



D. HOSKEN 



AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING 



Potato Storage Construction 



An attempt was made to hold potatoes dormant until late January by 

 the use of ice as a cooling medium. The storage bin was not insulated but 

 was enclosed tightly and fitted with an ice compartment constructed to per- 

 mit free circulation of air within the bin. The capacity of the bin was 150 

 bushels of potatoes and the ice compartment held about 400 pounds of ice. 

 Technically, ice has proved to be a possilile medium, but from a practical 

 viewpoint the cost prohibits its use. 



Detailed plans of construction are now available for a commercial 

 storage having a capacity of 14,000 bushels and for a farm storage having 

 a capacity of 1000 bushels. Tbese plans are in accordance with past in- 

 vestigations at this Station and meet New Hampshire conditions. 



P. T. Blood 



Construction and Use of the Buck-Rake 



During the summer of 1943 and June 1944, trials with the buck- 

 rake proved that the rake would pick up 400 pounds of hay from the wind- 

 row or swath and that by "double-bucking" (placing one rake load upon 

 another) at least 700 pounds could be gathered. A round trip from field to 

 barn, including gathering, could be made every 10 minutes so that trans- 

 porting two tons of hay from field to barn per hour was accomplished ; af- 

 ter skill was acquired, as many as three tons per hour could be hauled. 



A different hoist, using power from the engine, was installed during 

 the winter of 1943-1944. This hoist enables the operator to raise and lower 

 tlie rake, and to hold it in position, by using only one lever, and to do this 

 whether the machine was moving forward or backward, or was motionless. 



