April, 1932] Agricultural Research in N. H. 5 



low cost per bushel ; good yields are not correlated with intensive meth- 

 ods of pruning and caring for trees. There are indications that site 

 or pollination or both may have more influence on yields than just 

 methods. 



The other phases of the study are in process of development. 



On ten selected fruit farms in 1926 the average labor income was 

 $80 ; in 1927, a year of good prices, the average labor income was $2,777 

 on 12 farms, and in 1928, it was $843. The average labor income for 

 the three year period was $1,336. 



Approximately 18% of the total time reported on these farms was 

 used for miscellaneous items such as repairing buildings ; work on new 

 and old equipment ; directing men ; conferences with machinery, equip- 

 ment and fertilizer salesmen ; record-keeping ; credit problems, etc. 

 (Pumell Fund) 



Roughage Costs 



Records of silage production have been studied by M. F. Abell on 

 280 New Hampshire farms as a part of the roughage production costs. 

 Silage corn averaged 7.5 acres per farm, constituting nearly 12 per 

 cent, of the tillage area. The farms were somewhat larger than ordi- 

 nary, as is indicated by the fact that they averaged 21 cows and 13 

 head of young stock. Average yields of silage amounted to 11.6 tons 

 per acre from 10.9 quarts of seed. Crews averaged 5.5 men. Influ- 

 ences of various practices are being summarized and will be discussed 

 in a separate publication. 



Hay records were studied on 328 farms. Permanent hay land aver- 

 aged 46.6 acres per farm and annual hay land 4.7 acres. 



Nearly 50 per cent, of the grass seed is timothy. The need for a 

 better quality roughage indicates the possibility of a reduction in 

 timothy by probably 15 per cent, and the substitution of some more 

 legumes. The rather large area in annual hay consists quite largely 

 of oats or oats and pea hay which is used as a " nurse ' ' crop. The oats 

 that in the past were largely cut for grain are now cut earlier for hay. 

 How great the expansion of this annual hay crop, considering the high 

 seed and labor cost for a yield so little larger than that of permanent 

 hay, raises many questions. Its use at present is almost entirely as a 

 crop in which or with which to seed for permanent hay. 



The large amount of manure used is accounted for partly by its ap- 

 plication to the annual hay crop, and for top-dressing new seedings 

 after the removal of the annual crop. Very little commercial fertilizer 

 is used on hay as yet. (Pumell Fund) 



An Extensive Study of New Hampshire Poultry Farms 



Pullets produce eggs cheaper than old hens by seven cents per dozen 

 with grain worth $40 per ton, according to a study of 23 commercial 

 poultry farms in the state. While the old hens ate slightly less feed 

 than pullets, their production percentage was much lower.. Feed con- 

 sumption per dozen eggs was 8.7 pounds for pullets and over 12 pounds 

 for hens. 



