38 UNIV. OF N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION [Bulletin 221 



Association, American Society of Agricultural Engineers, and the U. S. 

 Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and the Interior. 



The National Committee has already organized state committees in 

 fifteen states. 



At the suggestion of the National Committee, plans for carrying on 

 experimental work for the New England area were drawn up. The state 

 of New Hampshire was settled upon as being representative, and a state 

 committee, composed of well-known men of the state, was formed. Ar- 

 rangements were made to have the work carried on by the Station, and 

 active work on the project was started by W, T. Ackerman, ]VIarch 15, 

 1925. 



The experiment has three objectives: 



1. To equip ten selected experimental farms (comprising dairy, fruit, 

 poultr}', and general purpose farms) with electrical equipment, to deter- 

 mine what constitutes the maximum amount of electricity that can be 

 economically and efficiently used in farm operations. 



2. To investigate the possibilities of using electricity in community 

 enterprises. 



3. To make a survey of the present uses of electricity in this state. 

 The first named objective has received the greatest amount of attention 



to date, and is one that requires the greatest effort to bring it into opera- 

 tion. 



'Of the many angles of this question which could be studied, one prin- 

 cipal and important one has -feeen singled out: " What are the limits to the 

 use of electricity on farms?" This involves performing everj^ operation 

 with electricity which has any possibility of success and determining its 

 economic value and efficiency. 



A canvass of the agricultural sections of the state was necessary to 

 secure first-hand information. 



Many of the experiments carried on in other states have involved the 

 construction of a special rural line and the wiring of the consumers' houses 

 on this line preparatory to carrying on the investigations. It seemed in 

 this state that this expense and delay might be avoided by selecting 

 individuals who already had service installed and a reasonable amount 

 of equipment in use. 



This supposition was substantiated by observations made during the 

 preliminary survey of the state, and a list of desirable co-operators with 

 electric current available was made from which the ten experimental farms 

 have been selected. A by-product of the survey is a map of the state 

 showing all important physical features and 80 per cent of the rural lines 

 then in existence. 



Seven of the ten experimental farms are already well advanced in 

 the process of being equipped. The remaining three are in view, but 

 will not be attached until spring. 



It now appears that the dairy farm holds first place in the way of 

 possibilities for electrification; the poultry farm is a close second; and the 

 general farm has a chance to displace one or both of these, but until more 

 definite information is secured is relegated to third place; our fruit farms, 

 if operated solely as such and carrying no stock, appear to have the least 

 possibilities for building up an electrical load. Future developments 

 may change these placings. 



