AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH UN NEW HAMPSHIRE 43 



used as the basis of a new strain, but all 20 will be tested for yield, and 

 their ability to compete with the grasses, and to persist under definite sys- 

 tems of management. By means of this testing process, we may be able to 

 make further improvements in the strains during succeeding years. 



B. Red Clover 



Twenty-four seedlings have been brought into the greenhouse for 

 crossing this winter. These seedlings represent the more persistent fam- 

 ilies of the original lot of 12 which were seeded in 1939 and have stood in 

 the field through four full seasons. They also include some of the plants 

 from the Fj, and F2 generations produced by intercrossing. 



Seed was harvested in the summer of 1943 from the remaining plants 

 from the 1939 seeding. This will be used again for multiplication and test- 

 ing. Seed was produced in 1943 from the first planting sown in 1942, and 

 some of this seed is available for testing, both in controlled work and on 

 farms. 



C. Timothy 



Two strains of timothy, one late hay type and one showing certain 

 characteristics suited to grazing, are being carried along. These originally 

 were propagated clonally from parent material in the nursery. The clonal 

 rows are still intact although a few less desirable ones are being eliminated 

 as the work progresses. 



Alultiplication plots of each were seeded in 1943 for purposes of seed 

 production. Bulked seed was used. In addition, seed of each plant was 

 planted in small duplicate plots for purposes of testing, both for yield rec- 

 ords and for persistence under clipping. 



F. S. Prince, L. J. Higgins, P. T. Blood 



Eradication of Common Buttercup {Ranunculus acris) 

 From Permanent Pastures 



A number of plots 10 feet square were laid out in each of three butter- 

 cup-infested pastures in Durham, West Claremont, and North Haverhill. 

 Three methods of destroying the buttercup were employed : ( 1 ) cutting, 

 (2) application of fertilizers, and (3) chemical herbicides. Cutting seemed 

 to offer little promise of an effective control and therefore was discontinued 

 at midsummer. Heavy applications of ammonium sulphate and nitrate oi 

 soda stimulated buttercups, and other weeds as well as grasses. The results 

 were considered to be of no value and therefore these treatments were 

 likewise abandoned. 



The herbicide sinox, which has had spectacular success in destroying 

 annual weeds in grain fields and flax fields, was tried extensively but with 

 limited success. In North Haverhill, West Claremont, and Durham, plots 

 were treated with sinox of various concentrations, including that recom- 

 mended for general effective weed killing. Ammonium sulphate was added 

 as an activator. Sinox is a potent contact killer but in every instance the 

 underground parts of the buttercup survived one application. 



Borax was applied at a wide range of concentrations and at several 

 different dates in each of the three areas studied. Some success was ob- 

 tained at North Haverhill in middle and late Jwne with concentrations 



