52 a EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



laboratory of fifteen samples of dead bees and of comb for 

 arsenical poisoning. The results have been reported to the sta- 

 tion apiarist. The demand for an immediate report forced us 

 to devote some time to improvising a method to satisfactorily 

 meet this requirement. 



Considerable time was also devoted to the examination of 

 insecticides for other parties, and a number of cases of supposed 

 animal poisoning by arsenicals has been investigated. 



(c) Mr. Morse, assisted by Mr. Ruprecht, outlines his work 

 as follows : — 



Asparagus. — A small amount of analytical work has been 

 performed in finishing some loose ends of samples discovered in 

 sorting and arranging data for publication. A short report on 

 a simple study of the changes in asparagus after cutting proved 

 unexpectedly interesting to the asparagus growers at their an- 

 nual meeting, and led to a request from their secretary, Wilfrid 

 Wheeler, that the subject be fully studied. 



Cranberries. — Analyses have been made of fruit and vines 

 from groups of differently fertilized and unfertilized bogs, with 

 respect to the fertilizing constituents. The samples are unusu- 

 ally uniform in composition by the conventional methods. 



Analyses of two lots of Early Black, two of Late Howe and 

 one of McFarlin berries showed also a uniformity in food con- 

 stituents for the different varieties for this season. Continued 

 study of the bog waters shows the constant presence of a colloid 

 or colloidal mixture, consisting of iron, phosphoric acid, organic 

 matter and a little silica. The bog waters also carry in solution 

 calcium carbonate, arising probably from the concrete in which 

 the tiles are imbedded. 



Field A. — Analyses of clover samples, both of tops and of 

 roots, from the most striking plots were made early in the year. 

 Samples of clover at the time of cutting for hay were gathered 

 from each half of each plot in June and again in September, 

 dried and analyzed for nitrogen. The work was done in con- 

 nection with a proposed study of the effect of liming soil on 

 nitrogen assimilation by crops. The nitrogen determinations 

 were made by Messrs. Reals and Borden in the feed and dairy 

 section. 



Mr. Ruprecht continued his study of the minor effects of sul- 



