72 



enough advanced so that comparisons could be made. The 

 large majority of correspondents gave it as normal or above, 

 and the average of all returns indicates a 106.3 per cent 

 bloom. 



The prospect for the crop is very good, some reporting it 

 to be the best for several years. Others report that it is too 

 early as yet to give definite figures. The figures submitted, 

 however, place the estimate at 98.2 per cent of normal for 

 the crop prospect at the present time. This of course is sub- 

 ject to modification from different causes at later dates. 



Up to the time of reporting, the black-headed fireworm 

 was reported in many instances as doing the most damage. 

 A few reported the yellow-headed fireworm. Several re- 

 ported that no damage has as yet been done by fungous dis- 

 eases. According to the majority of reports it is as yet 

 too early to judge what the damage will amount to. " Ring- 

 worm," " false bloom," blast and scald are spoken of as 

 causing some loss. Several call attention to the fact that 

 fungous diseases are not generally understood by the grow- 

 ers, and so are not receiving the careful attention which the 

 situation demands. According to the figures at hand only 

 about 27 per cent of the growers spray their bogs at the 

 present time for either insects or fungous diseases. This is 

 not as it should be, but the growers are fast coming to realize 

 the need and value of this practice, and the number of those 

 employing it is steadily increasing. Cost should not deter 

 the grower, for the added return will much exceed this out- 

 lay; a man can well afford to feed his chickens gold dollars 

 if they will return him diamonds. 



While the acreage of new bog set this spring was not 

 especially large, the new vines are doing especially well, not 

 one report to the contrary being received. Of all vines set 

 93.8 per cent took root and are now alive, showing that 

 weather conditions were very favorable. 



The amount of water in the ditches is of course regulated 

 according to conditions where such regulation is made pos- 

 sible by a reserve supply of water, and wherever possible 

 such a supply is maintained. On dry bogs, however, the 

 supply of water is very nearly normal, being estimated at 



