28 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



which could be attributed to variations in fertilizer treatment 

 could be detected. Cutting continued longer this year than last. 

 The first cutting was on May 7, and the last on June 6. The 

 quality of the product was especially good, as was perhaps only 

 natural on a vigorous new bed. There were considerable dif- 

 ferences in yield on the different plots ; but the product will not 

 be reported at this time, as it is not clear that the differences 

 recorded were connected with varying fertilizer treatment. The 

 preparation of the entire area, as was pointed out last year, was 

 so thorough that the growth even on the plots receiving least fer- 

 tilizer is still unusually vigorous. 



Tent Experiments. — The fact was reported last year that 

 it is the plan to conduct experiments for the purpose of deter- 

 mining the influence of tent shade as affecting (1) yield; (2) 

 quality of product; (3) extent of injury from rust. It was, 

 however, found that conditions in the different j^lots of the old 

 asparagus bed, in which this work was begun, were not suffi- 

 ciently uniform to warrant the continuance of the work on that 

 bed. During the jjast season, however, a new bed has been set 

 for the purpose of continuing these experiments. 



Ckanberey Substations. 



It will be remembered that our cranberry work follows two 

 principal lines of inquiry relating (1) to the fertilizer require- 

 ments of the crop; (2) to the insect enemies of cranberries. 



The only work done in connection with insects during the past 

 year has been of a preliminary nature, as during the early part 

 of the season we did not enjoy the services of an entomologist who 

 could be assigned to this work. The station, however, has been 

 fortunate in concluding an engagement with Dr. Franklin, who 

 conducted insect work which gave such valuable results two or 

 three years ago. Dr. Franklin returns to this experiment 

 station as an assistant in entomology ; but it is our expectation 

 that he will be put in local charge of all our experimental work 

 with cranberries, although he will, as heretofore when con- 

 nected with the station, devote his time principally to a study 

 of insects in their relations to the crop. Dr. Franklin was un- 

 able to take up this work earlier than October 1, but he spent sev- 



