Agrjclltukal Rksearch in Ni.w Ha.mpshiri: 45 



PASTURES 



Pasture Management Studies 



As originallx' conceived, methods and costs of brush remov^al indi- 

 cated the possibilities of expanding good pasture area by further clearing, 

 adequate fertilizing, shifting of some crop land to pasture, and plowing 

 and seeding suitable areas. The use of a bulldozer was used to clear, 

 level, and seed about 10.5 acres of rough pasture. The expense involved, 

 under present rates of bulldozer hire, seems too great for pasture land. 

 On this one farm 10.5 acres of pasture land were leveled and trees and 

 rocks were removed at a cost of S706.56, or $67.29 per acre. Conditions 

 for bulldozer operation were not good. The soil was wet and four 

 inches of snow fell during the course of the operation. It is believed that 

 it took about a third longer to do the work and the results were not as 

 satisfactory as they would have been if done in August. The use of a 

 bulldozer is, however, an effective way for removing brush, trees, and 

 rocks, and for leveling hummocky land. 



In this instance, as the result of a pasture program starting in 1937, 

 all cows and heifers were pastured at home with no barn feeding of hay 

 for two pasture seasons. During this time, grain was reduced from 300 

 pounds to 100 pounds per day, or a reduction from full winter to one- 

 third of a winter grain ration. 



The improvement program by clearing began with 13.3 acres of 

 plots on 15 farms. It has now expanded so that on these same 15 farms 

 there are 82.5 acres of improved pasture from which brush has been re- 

 moved, 22.5 acres plowed and reseeded. 13.5 acres fitted with the bush 

 and bog harrow and reseeded, and 10.5 acres leveled with the bulldozer. 

 Six farmers have terminated their co-operation, five have not increased 

 the original cleared area, leaving eight that have now expanded the im- 

 proved pasture area. Three have been added to the original group. 



Some of the new chemicals for killing brush will be tried out this 

 summer. 



Al. F. Abell 



Eradiction of Weeds from Perm.anent Pastures 



Buttercup. Some success in eradicating the buttercup in permanent 

 pastures was attained by the use of ammonium sulfamate at '-V^c of a 

 pound per gallon of water. The use of borax also gave some promise of 

 success at concentrations ranging from 1 to 4 pounds per 100 square 

 feet. 



On the basis of these preliminary results, more plots were laid out 

 in Durham and at North Haverhill to discover more exactly the proper 

 time and other conditions for application. Applications of ammonium 

 sulfamate at %o pound per gallon of water, made June 20, in Durham, 

 gave almost complete control in 1944. Other applications on June 3 and 

 about the middle of July were less effective. The application on June 28 

 gave only temporary injury to grasses. By midsummer, these plots were 



