449 



lO-inch pipe. It entered the bog from a ditcli four feet iu depth. A 

 thermometer when immersed iu it indicated 72- Fahr. The water being- 

 somewhat protected from the sun's rays, the temperature at the exposed 

 edge of the ditch at the same poiut was 90^ Fahr. At a distance of a 

 hundred yards forther on, where the water was fully exposed to tlie suu's 

 rays, the temperature indicated S9^ Fahr. Shaded water iu a ditch a 

 hundred yards still farther removed from the first ditch had the temper- 

 ature of 78° Fahr., while the sand on the exposed edge of the ditch 

 showed a temperature of 92^ Fahr. These observations were taken at 

 4.30 p. m. 



We annex the following iu advance from French ^'Co.'s valuable An- 

 nual Cranberry Circular : 



The recent statistical report of N. R. Frencli to the Xew Jersey Cranberry Growers' 

 Association shows the entire acreage in New Jersey, under regular cultivation, to be 

 4,969 acres. Average cost at three years from setting, (the fruit-bearing age,) .$334.50 

 per acre, making total investment sl,66"2,130. Crops in this State have been, in 1871, 

 58,639 bushels ; iu 1872, 93,322 bushels ; 1873, 116,409 bushels. The average market- 

 prices have been in the years named, $3.42, $3.21, $2.93, resftectively. Abating $1 per 

 bushel from market-price for cost of picking and marketing, would make the crop of 

 1873 worth, on the vines, $224,716. or 13^ per cent, on the entire investment. 



The New Jersey fruitage in 1873 was most bountiful, but 40 to 50 per ceut. was de- 

 stroyed by the rot. This season the average fruitage upon old plantations is believed 

 to be 30 to 40 per cent, below last year, but the rot on these has not been so severe. 

 New bogs have suffered most, as usual, the entire crop in many cases being lost. Al- 

 lowing for increase of acreage, we think the entire crop of the State must be 25 per 

 cent, below that of a year ago. 



The crop on the eastern portion of Cape Cod is very light, and in many districts al- 

 most an entire failure. The western portion and the adjoining islands have good crops. 

 The other cranberry districts of Massachusetts and Ehode Island, nearly all of them, 

 have good crops. The few plantations on Long Island aud other portions of New York 

 have good crops. 



The fruit not aftected by New Jersey rot seems sound and solid, promising to keep 

 well. 



LIME AND ITS USE. 



By the Commissioxer. 



It is now universally conceded that in every quality of soil the use 

 of lime greatly conduces to its fertility, by converting its component 

 parts into the elements which give strength and brightness to straw, 

 and food to the plant. 



As to the time, place, and circumstances in which lime may be profit- 

 ably used, the directions are simple and ea.sy. In its use the farmer has 

 this advantage — that it may be spread upon the land at any time or 

 season, provided it is spread, and not suffered to lie in heaps after it 

 shall have been slaked. It loses nothing by exposure, and soon finds 

 its place commingled with the soil. Whether the land be broken up or 

 in sod is of no importance ; but the circumstance as to quantity brings 

 into consideration this principle, that the more may be used iu propor- 

 tion to the fertility of the soil. While upon a good limestone clay, 250 

 bushels to the acre might be used with impunity, 100 bushels upon a 

 thin slate or sandy soil, void of vegetable matter, would do more harm 

 than good. Just in proportion to the vegetable substance which is in the 

 land may the quantity of lime be increased. In slate or sandy land, 

 4 A 



