April, 1931] Agricultural Research in N. H., 1930 



13 



Lancaster Lettuce Started Well 



The experiment to determine whether "Iceberg" lettuce can be suc- 

 cessfully grown on a commercial scale in the White Mountain area of 

 New Hampshire met with auspicious results early in the season of 1930 ; 

 but an unusual spell of sunless weather coupled with a flooded market 

 changed the story. The first shipments of lettuce from Lancaster, where 

 ten acres were grown experimentally by the Station, under the charge 

 of R. B. Dearborn, were of fine quality heads, solid and free of dirt. 

 Prices were comparable with those for western "Iceberg". 



One wholesale distributor purchased a lot of lettuce and placed it in 

 his storage along with some western. After five days had elapsed, he 

 checked on the lettuce from the two sources and stated, "That from 

 New Hampshire held up equally as well as the western and the flavor 



was better." Subsequent 

 shipments declined in solidi- 

 ty; and also in quality, due 

 to wet cloudy weather. 



Until further trials have 

 been made, the Station is not 

 ready to recommend com- 

 mercial culture of the crop; 

 but on the other hand, is not 

 yet / ready to abandon the 

 proj ect. 



Effect of Temperature on 

 Seed Stalk Formation. 

 Greenhouse studies with let- 

 tuce prior to the outdoor ex- 

 periment reported above in- 

 dicated that the growth of 

 seed stalks is directly pro- 

 portional to the amount of 

 heat. 



Fertilizer studies with 

 Lancaster soil under green- 

 house conditions showed 

 marked results from the use of acid phosphate in promoting growth. 

 A combination of medium nitrogen and high phosphorus gave best re- 

 turns, and in the commercial plantation a 5-8-2 fertilizer was used. 

 {Purnell Fund) 



Soil Fertility Studies 



The Station's long-time soil fertility experiments, involving 461 plots 

 on five different areas in the state, are building up a body of evidence 

 as to varying treatments, particularly on run-out soils. 



In the grass plots at Greenland, where the original sod plots, badly 

 run out, were not plowed, nitrate of soda has failed to give the signif- 

 icant increase which it gave on the plowed sections, whether manured 

 or not. Superphosphates failed to give a significant increase when used 



A trial carload of "iceberg" lettuce shipped 

 from the experimental plots at Lancaster. 



