16 



N. H. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION [Bulletin 199 



soil this has outclassed other varieties and ranks with Learning, 

 Eureka, and others as standard for the state. Breeding experi- 

 ments at the Station have also produced a superior strain of forc- 

 ing cucumber, which is now disseminated throughout New England 

 under the name of "The Granite State." It is planned to start 

 other experiments of a similar nature with a view to giving to the 

 state strains of common garden vegetables especiall}^ adapted to 

 New Hampshire conditions. 



NEW TIMOTHY STRAIN BEING BRED 

 Timothy hay, which has hitherto not had the advantage of 

 breeding work, has for several years been the object of some spe- 



j'STv^J'^-'' yi-'s* ->■ A 'V~4i t - 





toelectiug timothy to secure an improved strain. 



cial investigations which will shortly make it possible to furnish 

 an improved strain of seed to farmers in the state. 



Testing of seeds for purity and germination is another service 

 which the Station laboratory performs. If the seed which the 

 farmer buys contains a large amount of foreign matter, or if a 

 good proportion of it will not sprout, there is a serious loss in the 

 crop. Good seed is fundamental to good farming; and the Sta- 

 tion has not only conducted the official tests for the State De- 

 partment for ten years, but has tested consignments of seed for 

 farmers in general throughout the state. The importance of seed 

 testing may be realized when it is considered that in different 

 years there has been a variation of from 43 to 80 per cent in the 

 number of samples meeting the guarantee for germination. 



