May, 1921] BIENNIAL REPORT. 21 



Block I — Pruned to vase-shaped trees. 

 Block II — Pruned to semi-leaders. 

 Block III — Pruned to leaders. 

 Block IV — Pruned to leaders. 

 Block V — Summer pruned. 



The first orchard, which was planted in 1918, has made a very good growth, 

 and shows much larger trees where the least pruning is done. 



Use of Fertilizer in the Peach Orchard. — The fertilizer experiment in the peach 

 orchard has been continued, and it is interesting to note that this year for the 

 first time there is a decided evidence of the use of fertilizer. The trees where 

 nitrogen is used are more vigorous, are larger, and have better foliage than 

 where none is used, but it is yet too soon to see the effect of omitting either 

 phosphorus or potash from the fertilizer. 



Vegetable Storage. — The work in pit storage during the past year was con- 

 ducted with leaves instead of hay as insulation material. Carrots, beets, 

 potatoes, and cabbage were stored with varying amounts of protection and 

 temperature records obtained. 



Tomatoes. — A variety test of forcing-tomatoes has been continued for several 

 years in the greenhouses. In 1919 twelve varieties and strains were planted, 

 and individual yield records were kept for each plant in the house. John Baer 

 was the highest yielding of any included in the test. However, this variety is 

 not of the type that is desired on the Boston market. The Marvel ran too 

 small, and the Belmont was such a poor producer that both proved worthless 

 under our conditions. Bonny Best, Lister's Prolific and Balshire were the 

 highest yielding varieties of a tj'pe that is desired on this market. Other 

 varieties tried were: Peerless, Lord Roberts, Grand Rapids, Comet, and Globe. 



With regard to tomatoes grown out of doors, the season confirmed previous 

 observations that it is very necessary to have early maturing varieties of 

 tomatoes for New Hampshire conditions. The Sunny Proof Earliana strain 

 yielded more ripe tomatoes than any other kind, with Chalk's Jewell a second. 



In 1920 an experiment was conducted on eight plots with fertilizers on to- 

 matoes. The results showed beyond question the value of phosphorus in grow- 

 ing this crop. One thousand pounds of phosphorus produced a bigger yield 

 than either 500 or 1500, while the use of potash proved injurious. Manure 

 was applied on all except the check plot at the rate of 20 tons per acre. 



MISCELLANEOUS PROJECTS. 



In 1920 the Agronomy Department made purity and germination tests of 

 570 samples of grass and grain seeds for farmers, county agents, dealers, and 

 the State Department of Agriculture; also about 40 tests (rf soils for lime for 

 farmers throughout the state. The Chemistry Department analyzed 110 

 fertihzer samples, 307 samples of commercial feeding stuffs, and 10 samples of 

 spray materials for the State Department of Agriculture. For the first time 

 arrangements were made with the Bureau of Chemistry, U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture, in connection with the adulteration or misbranding of feed stuffs 

 in interstate shipments; and 10 samples were reported to the Department 

 during the year. Over 100 analyses of feed stuffs, fertilizers, insecticides 



