28 N. H. Agri. Experiment Station [Bulletin 284 



Inspection Service 



Feediiigstiiffs Inspection. In the enforcement of the law regulating the 

 sale of concentrated commercial feedingstuffs, 386 brands were analyzed 

 for the State Department of Agriculture. The analyses required about 2,900 

 individual determinations. 



Fertiliser Inspection. In the enforcement of the law regulating the sale 

 of commercial fertilizers, 109 brands were analyzed for the State Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. These analyses required about 720 determinations. 



Soil Tests. Various methods for the determination of available plant 

 nutrients in soils have been tested by applying them to the soils from the 

 field experiments, whose treatment and response to fertilizers are known. It 

 is now possible to learn more about a soil sample than ever before, and to 

 give more definite recommendations as to fertilizer treatment and soil man- 

 agement. This service was available about March 1st, 1934. During the 

 previous eight months of the fiscal year about 150 samples of soil had been 

 received and tested for acidity. From March 1st to July 1st, 1934, over 250 

 samples were received and over 2,200 individual determinations were made 

 on them. 



Some 35 samples of peats, leaf molds, feeds, fertilizers and other mate- 

 rials, sent in by residents of the State, have been examined. This work has 

 required about 100 individual determinations. Numerous inquiries not in- 

 volviniT analvses have been received and answered. 



'b 



Seed Certification. In 1933 there were 79 acres of Green Mountain pota- 

 toes entered for certification and 4 acres of Triumphs, mostly the white 

 variety. All the fields entered passed certification. 



Seed Inspection. The regular seed inspection work for the State De- 

 partment of Agriculture was conducted as usual. During the period from 

 July 1, 1933 to June 30, 1934, the laboratory handled 461 samples, of which 

 412 were collected by the state inspector and are reported in Bulletin 282. 

 The remaining 49 samples were sent in by private individuals. {Betty G. 

 Sanborn and L. J. Higgins — Miscollaneous Income.) 



Pneumatic Tractor Tires 



The experiments with pneumatic tires for tractors consist of testing two 

 sets of nationally known make in actual farm operations on the college and 

 horicultural farms, with the object to determining the wearing qualities, up- 

 keep and repair costs, and tractive ability on New Hampshire soils and 

 grades. 



Results thus far ol^tained indicate an exceedingly low rate of wear or 

 abrasion from farm usage, assuring a long life. Accidental injury to the 

 casings now appears to be the important consideration and only two occa- 

 sions of this kind have occurred in 19 months. Small front tires are subject 

 to greater amount of such injury than large rear tires, apparently. Chains, 

 lugs, and similar devices are being experimented with to provide additional 

 traction in wet going. {W . T. Ackerman and G. M. Foidkrod — Purnell.) 



