WEATHER IN CRANBERRY CULTURE 



83 



Supplementary Note, January 1943 



In the seven years which have elapsed since the foregoing manuscript was 

 completed, the general interest in the keeping quality of cranberries has some- 

 what slackened. This is in large part due to the increased importance of canning, 

 which offers an immediate outlet for cranberries which are of excellent quality at 

 the time but might prove too weak for satisfactory shipment as fresh fruit. 



In the crop just marketed, that of 1942, there was sufficient loss from decay in 

 the Early Black variety in Massachusetts to cause comment in the November 

 number of CRANBERRIES. The same condition was reported regarding part of 

 the New Jersey crop. While no figures are available which make accurate com- 

 parison possible, correspondents in the Massachusetts cranberry region indicate 

 that it is reasonably certain that there were greater losses from decay in the 

 Massachusetts crop in 1942 than in any crop since that of 1933. 



In view of this information, it seemed worth while to compile the weather data 

 for East Wareham, Massachusetts, for the years 1936-1942. This is presented 

 below on the same basis as in Table 3. 



Comparison of the figures here given with those in Table 3 will show at once 

 that 1942, which produced the crop of "poorest keeping quality since 1933," had 

 fairly frequent rainfall in July and August combined with a May and June warmer 

 than any other except 1922 in the period under survey. 



Anyone "forecasting" the keeping quality of the Massachusetts crop in Sep- 

 tember 1942 would have unhesitatingly predicted very poor keeping quality. 



Estimated Size of Massachusetts Cranberry Crop and Weather Data 

 FOR East Wareham. 



♦Temperature summations above 50°F. for East Wareham, Massachusetts. 

 tNumber of days with .01 inch or more precipitation at the Cranberry Station, East Wareham, 

 Massachusetts. 



