94 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 160. 



The difference in temperature caused by the use of the cloth might 

 have been greater had a larger area been covered, but the advantage 

 shown in the table would be sufficient to entirely protect a bog in most 

 locations, except under such extreme conditions as would only rarely 

 occur, and even under such conditions it would afford a partial protection. 

 The results of the tests, therefore, appear to highly recommend the use 

 of this cloth for frost protection on bogs which are winter flowed but 

 cannot be reflowed in any way at reasonable expense. It can be pur- 

 chased in quantity from the manufacturers, all sewed up in strips of any 

 desired size, for 3Vs cents per square yard, the cost of enough for a whole 

 acre being only about $150, and, if properly cared for, it ought to give 

 good service for many years, as it would seldom be used for extended 

 periods. When used to cover a whole bog, it would have to be spread out 

 on wires in sections and be so arranged that considerable areas could be 

 either covered or uncovered by a single pull of a rope. The first cost of 

 this means of protection fully installed probably would be less than $200 

 an acre, and the loss by depreciation would be no greater than the cost 

 of the upkeep and operation of a pumping plant. If a grower had to 

 install his protection at less cost than this, he probably could do so by 

 bujdng cloth that had been used one season in growing tobacco. In the 

 opinion of the writer, the protection afforded by new cloth would be as 

 good as that which would be had with a pumping plant, for such plants 

 frequently fail in emergencies. For strictly dry bogs (without winter 

 flowage) the expense of cloth protection seems prohibitive, because the 

 returns from such bogs are comparatively small. 



Fungous Diseases. 



These studies were carried on, as in former years, in co-operation with 

 the Bureau of Plant Industry of the United States Department of Agri- 

 culture, Dr. Shear having general supervision of the sprajdng experiments 

 and conducting the laboratory investigations. 



Of the various sprayed plots, results with which have been given in 

 previous reports, the following were treated again with Bordeaux mix- 

 ture on dates as indicated, the neutral copper acetate application given in 

 former years being omitted: A, three times, on June 16, July 20 and 

 August 7; B, three times, on June 16, July 20 and August 8; D, three 

 times, on June 13, July 20 and August 13; " 1913,'' three times, on June 16, 

 July 27 and August 17 (an extra spraying was appUed during full bloom 

 to one-half of this plot on July 11); one-half of fertilizer olot 15, three 

 times, on June 16, July 20 and August 8. Plots C and E were left with- 

 out treatment. The middle half of ulot A was fertilized on June 18, a 

 quarter of the plot on each side being left without fertilizer as in the 

 previous season, that used on the middle portion being applied at the 

 following rate per acre : — 



Pounds. 

 Nitrate of soda, ........... 200 



Acid phosphate, ........••• 400 



High-grade sulfate of potash, . . . . . . . . • 200 



