440 



have attributed it to auimalctiles, others to climatic causes, but as yet the true cause 

 has not been determined. Much anxiety is felt by hundreds who have invested in the 

 cultivation of this fruit, and the New Jersey Cranberry Association, composed of a 

 large number of respectable citizens of the counties of Cape May, Atlantic, Ocean, and 

 Monmouth, at their late session, desired me to write to you on the subject 



We arp informed that the Department of Agriculture at Washington is in the habit, 

 when requested, of sending some scientific person to make a critical analysis and ex- 

 amination in such cases, with a view to ascertain the real cause of the rot, and devise, 

 if possible, such treatment as will prevent it. 



You will greatly oblige many of your personal friends and fellow-citizens if you will 



make inquiry, and procure the services of a proper scientist, to make the examination 



desired. It is said that the Department is very ready to make such investigations, and 



will, when occasion requires, send a competent person, free of charge, for the purpose. 



Yours truly, 



GEO. F. BEOWN. 



Hon, S. A. Dobbins, M. C. 



I think it probable that in Ocean County, New Jersey, the loss ou the cranberry-crop 

 for the last year approximates §100,000 ; that is, the loss by what is familiarly called 

 the " scald." G.' F. B 



On tbe 10th of July last the president of the New Jersey Cranberry 

 Growers' Association wrote to the Department as follows : 



BORDENTOWX, N. J., July 10, 1874. 

 Dear Sir: At the last meeting of the New Jersey Cranberry Growers' Association, 

 Dr. George Goodale and myself were appointed a committee to procure, if possible, a 

 scientist from the Department of Agriculture to investigate the cause of the crauberry 

 rot, which has been so fearfully destructive in some portions of our cranberry region. 

 If consistent with your views, we should be pleased to have a suitable person sent from 

 your Department to meet us at Philadelphia, for the purpose of makiug arrangements 

 to visit some of the principal plantations affected with this disease, and to suggest, if 

 possible, a remedy. 



Respectfully, yours, 



JOHN H. BEAKELEY. 

 Hod. Frederick Watts, 



Commissioner of Agriculture. 



These letters were referred to me by the Commissioner of Agriculture, 

 with instructions to make the desired investigation. Previous to visit- 

 ing the cranberry plantations, I deemed it best to make an examination 

 of the healthy and the unhealthy vines, their roots and fruit, with sam- 

 ples of the soils in which they grew, and now present a preliminary 

 report of the results of my investigations. I accordingly requested 

 A. J. Eider, esq., of Atsion, Burlington County to forward to this 

 Department such specimens as were necessary for m}^ purpose. Two 

 specimens of vines, one healthy the other unhealthy, were in a short 

 time received by the Department, and a specimen of the soil in 

 which each plant grew. An examination of the roots of each vine 

 showed that the one which bore rotting fruit had much larger 

 and darlvcr roots than the other. The peaty muck in which the healthy 

 plants grew had a pleasant odor, and was not in a fermenting condition, 

 Avhile that of the unhealthy plant was in a condition of fermenta- 

 tion, and had the odor of sulphuretted hydrogen. A second set 

 of plants was received, with specimens of the soil in which they grew. 

 It was again observed that the vines on which unhealthy berries grew 

 had darker and larger roots than those which bore health}^ fruit, and 

 that the soil of the latter was odorless, while that of the former had a 

 bad odor, and was in a fermenting condition. These facts led me to 

 believe that the sour condition of the soil was the primary cause of the 

 rotting of the berries. 



On the 22d of July last, I visited Cranberry Park Station, Atsion^. 



