30 a EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



tention is here called to the fact that cranberry bogs show a 

 marked tendency to heavy fruit production in alternate years 

 only. The product of 1912 sold for $1,069.87. If the two 

 years, 1912 and 1913, then be included, the bog does not pro- 

 duce sufficient income to cover both ordinary and experimental 

 expenses, and it can hardly be anticipated that over a series of 

 years it will do this, although undoubtedly it will carry a con- 

 siderable share of such expenses unless the scope of our work 

 be greatly increased, as compared with that at present car- 

 ried on. 



During the past year Dr. Franklin has continued to co-oper- 

 ate with the United States Weather Bureau at Boston in 

 weather observations, with a view to collecting data which 

 shall be useful in forecasting frosts. He believes that sub- 

 stantial improvement has been made. At the same time im- 

 portant experiments on methods for frost protection have been 

 in progress. The Skinner system of sprinkling has been tested, 

 with unfavorable results. Other methods are suggested, among 

 them protection from the early morning sun by smoke or some 

 other screen, which method, however, has not been fully tested. 



The value of keeping a bog well sanded as a means of frost 

 protection is pointed out. 



Co-operative work with the United States Department of 

 Agriculture, which is represented in such work by Dr. Shear, 

 has been continued. The results do not clearly indicate that 

 the systems of spraying which were tried were efficacious. 



Copper sulfate in different proportions in the flowage water 

 has been tested as a fungicide. The results were not favorable. 



Preliminary work looking toward the possible development 

 of varieties superior to those now generally cultivated has been 

 begun, — a line of work which should prove of much value. 



The relation of insects, especially the honey bee, to the pol- 

 lination of the flowers has been further studied, the results 

 fully confirming those previously obtained. The cranberry ap- 

 pears to be dependent upon transfer of pollen by insects, and 

 the honey bee is undoubtedly one of the most important among 

 such insects. 



Fertilizer experiments were continued, the application of 



