8 N. H. Agr. Experiment Station [Bulletin 280 



Growing Hay on Neglected Land 



Following publications of the results of the first six years of work 

 on hay production on neglected hay lands, the fields were replowed 

 and seeded to red clover after unsuccessful seedings to timothy. Fol- 

 lowing the 1934 red-clover harvest, timothy will be replanted. Nitrogen 

 proved to have the greatest influence on the yield of timothy from 1926 

 to 1931, as pointed out in Station Bulletin 271. Phosphorus influenced 

 the yield markedly the first year. Lime was also beneficial. These 

 studies are in charge of F. S. Prince and T. G. Phillips. {Purnell Fund) 



Manure, Potash Help Alfalfa on Worn-Out Soil 



Manure and potash were necessary soil treatments in the production 

 of alfalfa on worn-out hay lands, the former giving constant and sig- 

 nificant increases in yields and the latter appearing to prolong the life 

 and add to the yield of the legume, according to five years' work in 

 Greenland plots. The results are in Station Bulletin 271. The ex- 

 perimental work is being continued. {Purnell Fund) 



Greenhouse Soil Testing 



Greenhouse experimental work is done each year, testing for defi- 

 ciencies in the various soil types of the state. Such indicator plants 

 as tomatoes or tobacco are grown. Twenty-four tubs of untreated 

 "original" soil from the Lane farm, Chichester, were tested in 1933, for 

 example. Seven different combinations of fertilizer were used, the soil 

 showing a strong need for phosphorus. {Hatch Fund) 



New Variety Tests 



Seven special variety tests were begun b}^ F. S. Prince and P. T. 

 Blood this year with soy-beans, clovers, lespedezas, commercially im- 

 portant varieties of oats and barley, and mixtures of oats and legumes. 



Soy-bean trials included 64 new strains from the federal bureau of 

 plant industry ; the nine standard varieties of Dunfield, Mukden, Black 

 Eyebrow, Harbinsoy, Manchu, Pekwa, Illini, Midwest and Wilson; and 

 Pekwa alone and with Hungarian. The Pekwa-Hungarian seeding 

 yielded 1,280 pounds per acre more than the soy-beans alone. This 

 difference in weight was obtained after both crops had been dried in 

 an electric drier. 



Of the 64 new strains of soy-beans, about 30 are thought to be suit- 

 able for green vegetable purposes and are being tested by the home 

 economics department. 



Ladino and White Dutch clovers are also on trial. 



Lespedezas included in the tests are two strains of Korean and seri- 

 cea, a perennial. 



Wisconsin and Alpha barleys and Cornellian and Swedish oats were 

 also seeded this year. Legume mixtures include Chang peas and 

 Swedish oats, hairy vetch and Swedish oats and common vetch and 

 Swedish oats. The hairy vetch, spring sown, made as much growth 

 as peas, and both made considerably more growi,h than spring or com- 

 mon vetch. Since the hairy vetch also makes a good growth in the 



