Food for Plants. 83 



abundance of water affected the lateral movement of soil 

 moisture and leaching of plant food from the soil stores. 



On the nights of June 9th and 10th danger of severe 

 frost caused the proprietors to flow the bogs for protec- 

 tion. The series of plots located in the deep mud and 

 iron ore soils (so-called) were completely flooded to a 

 depth varying from a few inches to a foot. The Savan- 

 nah plots, even though located in the same bogs, were on 

 a higher level and the water only covered one end of the 

 plots, about one-half of each. At first thought it would 

 appear that the lateral movement of the soil water would 

 carry the plant food, especially the soluble salts, Nitrate 

 of Soda, ammonium sulphate, and the potash salts, from 

 one plot to another, and that there would be considerable 

 leaching of plant food into the drainage water, because 

 the water is drawn through the soil into the ditches on 

 its way out; but subsequent observations extending 

 through the remainder of the year showed a distinct line 

 of markation between the fertilized plots and the check 

 plots adjoining. The increased vine growth causing this 

 distinct markation became clearly defined, first w^ith Ni- 

 trate of Soda, then ammonium sulphate, and so on 

 through the list of plots, showing more clearly upon the 

 plots which received complete mixtures. 



This condition was more particularly true on the 

 " Savannah " soils, and it might be added that yields 

 were greatly increased. (Record of yields may be found 

 in 1914 Report of N. J. Agric. Experiment Station or 

 Proceedings 45th Annual Meeting American Cranberry 

 Growers' Association.) Upon the deep mud and iron ore 

 plots the diiferences and lines of markation were distin- 

 guishable but not so clearly defined. 



After three years of obsei'^^ation and experience, both 

 experimental and practical, the author is convinced that 

 the loss from leaching is so negligible that he feels no 

 hesitancy in advising growers to apply fertilizers com- 

 posed of Nitrate of Soda, acid phosphate and muriate of 

 potash as soon as the winter water is drawn from the 

 bogs, about May 20th, before the reflow for insect con- 



