1917] HORTICULTURE. 43 



of tlie seventh and eighth years, or for the whole 8-j'ear period, was $2,280.52. 

 The average yearly profit was $29.81 per acre, which is equivalent to 29.8 

 per cent on the original investment of $100 an acre or a 5 per cent return 

 on an orchard valuation of $596.20 ar acre. The cost of raising a IG-qt. Dela- 

 ware hasket of peaches during the whole period was 84.472 cts., and the net 

 profit per haslcot was 12.92.3 cts. 



Report of cranberry substation for 1915, H. J. Franklin {Massachtisetts 

 Sta. Bui. 168 (1916), pp. //8).— This bulletin contains a full report on the work of 

 the cranberry substation at East Wareham for the year 1915 (E. S. R., 33, 

 p. 341). 



The usual weather observations were made during the year and experiments 

 with tobacco sliade cloth for frost protection were continued, witii the general 

 result, however, that its u.se for this purpose appears less advisable than the 

 1914 tests seemed to indicate. The difficulties connected with its manipula- 

 tion on the bog are evidently considerable. The author is of the opinion that 

 a cheaper and more certainly effective means of protection may be had on 

 most unprotected bogs through flooding these areas by means of small pump- 

 ing plants. 



In connection with a study of fungus diseases extensive storage tests were 

 conducted during tlie fall and early winter to determine the effects of some 

 of the factors affecting the keeping quality of cranberrie.s. The results of a 

 number of these tests are here presented in tabular form. They show the 

 relation of ventilation to rate of decay, water losses of cranberries in boxes 

 of different construction and in different periods of the storage season, and 

 injury to keeping quality of cranberries caused by their drop into barrels. 

 Other storage tests and observations are also noted. 



The tests as a whole show that while ventilation is a very important factor 

 in retarding the development of rot, it is of doubtful economic value except 

 in storage house construction. The most rapid development of decay takes 

 place in the very first part of the storage season. Berries of poor keeping 

 quality are usually shipped as soon as possible after they are picked and it is 

 only with such fruit that the maximum benefit to be gained by superior 

 arrangements for ventilation would be realized. In lieu of extensive ven- 

 tilating equipment the thorough airing of the storage house on cool, dry days 

 and the allowance of as much space in the storage of the fruit as possible is 

 reconnnended. Special attention to the keeping down of temperatures appears 

 to promise fully as great advantages as far as storage previous to shipment 

 is concerned as can be obtained from special arrangements for ventilation. 



Much injury is done to the keeping quality of cranberries by the bouncing 

 of the berries in the separators commonly used and by their drop into the 

 barrels in separating and screening. In view of their greater expense the 

 use of less injurious separators appears to require the establishment of com- 

 munity packing houses. Although the barrel is the common method of ship- 

 ping cranberries it appears to be undesirable for this purpose, both from the 

 standpoint of mechanical injury and ventilation. The author is of the opinion 

 that fruit to be shipped to the trade in the more distant parts of the country 

 would be in a far more acceptable condition if crated and shipped in the 

 uncleaned condition, to be prepared for market at central distributing points 

 in the territory where it is to be consumed. 



Experiments in resanding cranberry bogs were continued (E. S. R., 31, 

 p. 740). The results with reference to quantity and keeping quality on the 

 sanded and resanded plats are here presented and compared with the results 

 secured in previous years. Briefly summarized, the plats have shown no very 



