1913.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 103 



the effect of fertilizers upon asj^aragiis. Phosphoric acid in 

 the ash of the roots was not changed either by the absence or 

 by varying the amounts of phosphate applied to the soil. Potas- 

 sium oxide in the ash varied with the amounts of potash applied 

 to the soil. Eoots collected in the summer of 1911, at the close 

 of cutting for market, showed no apparent exhaustion of nitro- 

 gen in them by withholding nitrate of soda until midsummer. 

 Sugar was, however, somewhat depressed by the absence of a 

 spring dressing of nitrate of soda. On the other hand, mature 

 tops collected in October, 1911, gave results showing a small 

 but persistent excess of nitrogen in samples from plots top- 

 dressed with nitrate in the spring. 



In case of the plant food requirements of the cranberry, the 

 time has been devoted largely to observations to determine the 

 probable amount of plant food which may be lost in the ditches 

 as well as that which may rise through the peat and sand as the 

 water rises and falls with the changes in rainfall, and the use 

 of water for irrigation and flooding. The total amount added 

 to the irrigation tiles during the summer of 1912 was equiva- 

 lent to 190,000 gallons per acre. This should, theoretically, 

 carry with it into the sand in which the roots grow some 53 

 pounds of nitrogen, 30 pounds of phosphoric acid and 85 pounds 

 of potash per acre. Other studies are in progress. 



A study of the action of sulfate of ammonia on several of the 

 experiment station plots is in progress and considerable data 

 are being accumulated which, it is hoped, will throw some light 

 upon this perplexing problem. 



(c) In addition to the above fundamental problems, Dr. 

 Lindsey has continued his studies on the digestibility of cattle 

 feeds, including cottonseed feed meal, cocoanut meal, flax and 

 wheat screenings, flax shives and cocoa shells. An experiment 

 concerning the value of alfalfa hay in milk production has also 

 been completed, and observations are still in progress concerning . 

 milk substitutes for rearing dairy calves. 



2. Eeport of the Fertilizer Section. 

 Mr. Haskins reports as follows : — 



Although the principal work of the fertilizer division has 

 been confined to the inspection of commercial fertilizers, yet 



