AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN NEW HAMPSHIRE 55 



in soil. Seed was counted, treated, and showed a stimulation with thiourea. 

 However, the untreated seed later germinated a higher percentage on filter 

 paper, and when both lots subsequently were transferred to soil, the lettuce 

 growth from untreated seed was actually more vigorous than that for the 

 treated seeds. 



Red Kidney beans were germinated on filter paper in two lots, one 

 untreated and one treated with 0.5 per cent thiourea. These showed some 

 inhibition of growth in the treated seed but nearly the same percentage 

 germination was attained in both lots. Thiourea inhibited mold growth on 

 the seedlings. Tests with tomato seed resulted in 80 per cent germination 

 with untreated water and only 10 per cent when thiourea was added. 



Onion seed and lettuce seed treated for 24 hours with 0.5 per cent 

 thiourea and then planted directly in a bed of soil showed no particular 

 difiference in percentage germination compared to controls or in subse- 

 quent growth, except that the onion seed grew somewhat more slowly at 

 first. 



Potato seed pieces were treated with the following dry powders and 

 then planted in soil : Seed-aid, Pree-plant, Rootone, urea, thiourea, and 

 p-chlorophenoxy acetic acid. The first three powders were commercial 

 preparations. The control was earliest to sprout, urea and Seed-aid next, 

 Pree-plant and thiourea next, and Rootone was distinctly inhibitory, and 

 all were killed with p-chlorophenoxy acetic acid. 



A large number of corn seeds were treated with the same commercial 

 preparations and with dilute solutions of urea, thiourea, and indolacetic 

 acid ; they were then planted along with untreated seeds. All germinated 

 at about the same time and grew with the same vigor. 



S. Dunn 



NUTRITION — VITAMINS — METABOLISM 



Factors Affecting the Nutritive Value of 

 New^ Hampshire-Grown Fruits and Vegetables 



I. The Effects of Quick-freezing on the Vitamin Content of 

 Straw^berries 



The main objective of this study was to note the effect of quick freezing 

 and storage on the ascorbic acid content of different varieties of straw- 

 berries grown in New Hampshire. In carrying out this objective, nu- 

 merous other studies of factors which might affect the ascorbic acid content 

 of the berries were made. These factors include seasonal variation ; hold- 

 ing the berries for 12 and 24 hours at room temperature and for the same 

 length of time under refrigeration ; holding sliced berries 24 hours in the 

 refrigerator with and without sugar ; freezing with and without sugar ; and 

 thawing for 12 hours in the refrigerator versus quick thawing. 



Six vaieties, Narcissa, Fairfax, Dresden, Catskill, Pathfinder, and 

 Howard 17 were sampled throughout the harvesting season; but due to 

 weather conditions, the size and condition of the crop was below expecta- 

 tion, making it impossible to carry out all the studies planned on any one 

 variety at every picking. In this study, a total of 75 quarts was used, the 



