March, 1928] agricultural experiments 1927 29 



CAN BEAN SEED BE PREHEATED WITHOUT 

 DESTROYING GERMINATION? 



Studies of bean anthracnose, previously conducted by Stuart Dunn, have 

 shown that while this disease can be controlled by heating bean seed to a 

 proper temperature the process greatly devitalizes the seed. It has been 

 found, however, that preheating seed at a moderate temperature makes a 

 considerable difference in its resistance to the necessary high temperature 

 used later. 



The seed was placed in an oven at 45° C. for periods ranging from 8 to 

 20 days and then transferred to an oven at 95° to 100° for periods ranging 

 from 1 to 8 hours. Germination percentages varied from 92 per cent for 

 the short period to 52 per cent for the longer. (Hatch Fund.) 



A STUDY OF ROADSIDE MARKETS 



A study of roadside markets in New Hampshire was undertaken during 

 the summer of 1927. A record of the business operations on a large 

 number of roadside stands was taken by the survey method. In addition 

 a small number of stands kept a detailed day-by-day record of sales 

 through the season. 



The results of the survey are being tabulated and summarized by M. 

 Gale Eastman. I^guros from 102 stands show a total sales of all kinds 

 of $281,000. (Purnell Fund.) 



MARKET PRICE OF BROILERS 



During the past few years there has been a phenomenal increase in the 

 production of broilers by New Hampshire poultrymen. Prices have 

 varied greatly, and a special study is, therefore, being conducted by 

 the Experiment Station of the relation of broiler receipts to prices on the 

 New York market. 



By special arrangement with representatives of the Bureau of Agri- 

 cultural Economics of the United States Department of Agriculture, data 

 were copied from the books of the principal dealers of the New York 

 market, showing the daily individual receipts, weight, place of origin, kind 

 and price. These have been tabulated from January 1, 1925, to ]May 15, 

 1926, and the daily average receipts and prices made up. They indicate 

 that New Hampshire supplies 75 per cent or more of the total express 

 broilers sold during the winter months. 



A statistical analysis of these data is being made, but as yet little cor- 

 relation between the amount of receipts and prices has been found. 



In addition a study of the causes of market fluctuations and trade pref- 

 erences as regards quality and size on the New Y^ork market was made by 

 E. H. Rinear. Some of the reasons for daily market fluctuations were 

 found to be: changing weather conditions, varying Hebrew demand, lack 

 of organized means of supplying the market regularly, speculation, and 

 influence of small receivers in misjudging the market. 



Arrangements were made last spring to have more data copied from the 

 books of the New York dealers, and data will then be available covering 

 a four-year period preceding May 31, 1927. (Purnell Fund.) 



