REPORT OF CRANBERRY SUBSTATION FOR 1915. 19 



observations in this connection being presented here merely as an indi- 

 cation that the generally accepted opinion among cranberry men, that 

 berries keep better with vines among them, is possibly not correct. Vines 

 without leaves would probably aid in the ventilation of stored berries 

 and so help in retarding the development of rot. There is no evidence, 

 on the other hand, to show that leaves might not have an entirely opposite 

 effect, and, unfortunately, most of the vines that get mixed with the 

 fruit in picking are well supplied with them. Tests to definitely determine 

 this matter in the near future are planned. 



(/) To determine whether an Admixture of Decayed Berries usually 'pro- 

 motes the Developmeiit of Rot in Cranberry Storage. — The following single 

 series of tests was conducted in this connection : — 



Two dozen tin 1-quart cans were filled with Late Howe berries, taken 

 carefully by hand from boxes of fruit that had not been run through a 

 separator, on October 23, and were stored with their covers on tight but 

 not sealed. In twelve of these cans all the berries were apparently en- 

 tirely sound when stored, while in each of the other twelve, 10 entirely 

 rotten berries were mixed with the good ones. When this fruit was ex- 

 amined on January 4, sHghtly less decay was found in the latter cans than 

 in the former, there being no evidence to show that contact with the rotten 

 berries had promoted the development of decay at all. Berries infected 

 with different diseases, however, might have shown different results. 



(g) To determine the Relationship of the Degree of Ripeness of Cranberries 

 when picked to their Keeping Quality. — Two bushels of Early Black 

 cranberries, picked on October 23, were placed in storage at once without 

 any cleaning, being at that time very dark colored but apparently in good 

 condition. This fruit was examined on January 10, and was then found 

 to contain a larger percentage of rotten and partly rotten berries than 

 any other lot tested, the other Early Black berries having been picked on 

 different dates between the 10th and 23d of September and having been 

 stored as they came from the bog. The experience with this fruit agrees 

 with the results of similar tests carried out in previous seasons, in showing 

 that there is a stage of ripeness beyond which the keeping quality of 

 Early Black berries greatly deteriorates. It seems safe to say that berries 

 of this variety should, if the winter fiowage has been let off early the spring 

 before, all be picked by the 15th of September, and should never under 

 any circumstances be left on a bog later than the 25th of that month. 



A lot of Late Howe berries, picked in a previous season on the 13th of 

 November, developed less decay in storage than did any of the other 

 untreated berries tested that year. In this year's tests the berries of this 

 variety which were picked latest kept best. It seems probable, from these 

 results and from other experience, that Late Howe berries, to be their 

 best, should never be picked before the end of the first week in October. 



(h) To determine the Extent of the Injury to the Keeping Quality of Cran- 

 berries caused in the Process of "Separating." — Five series of tests were 

 conducted for this purpose, as follows: — 



