326 MASS. EXPEREMRNT STATION BULLETIN 247 



this defect, cans with an inside enamel of zinc oxide were used with ex- 

 cellent results. By slightly altering the hydrogen ion concentration of the 

 brine by the addition of a very small amount of an organic acid, the onion 

 could be sterilized by boiling for from 45-60 minutes and still remain 

 firm and whole within the can without injury to the flavor. It is hoped 

 that markets for canned onions may be found. 



Dried onions when firmly ground make an excellent "onion flavor" for 

 use in cooking. It retains its color and flavor very well for at least a 

 year and has proved very popular wherever used. A further study of 

 this product is proposed. 



Preliminary studies on pickling small onions have been uniformly suc- 

 cessful except for the occasional development of yellow spots on the 

 pickled onions. This defect requires study. 



(See also the report of the Depjirtment of Plant and Animal Chemistry). 



The Nitrogen Distribution of the Edible Portion of the Onion. ( F. P. 

 Griffitlis). Work lias been begun on tliis prijject, but definite results are 

 not yet forthcoming. 



Utilization of New England Fruits in Frozen Dairy Products. (C. R. 

 Fellers and F. P. Grift"iths in co-operation witli tlie Department of Dairy 

 Husbandry). An experimental pack of 190 one-gallon cans of frozen straw- 

 berries (10 varieties), raspberries (3 varieties), cherries (2 varieties), 

 blueberries, and peaches (4 varieties) was made with a view to studying 

 the use of these frozen fruits in the manufacture of frozen dairy products 

 such as ice cream, sherbets, and ices. The effect of different amounts and 

 kinds of sugar and of various methods of packing and handling, as well 

 as variations in the technology of fruit ice cream manufacture, has been 

 studied. It is also proposed to compare fresh, frozen and canned fruits. 



DEPARTMENT OF LANDSCAPE GARDENING 

 F. A. Waugh in Charge 



Lawns and Lawn Grasses and Lawn Management. (L. S. Dickinson). 

 The necessity for correct fertilization of the lawn from its start is very 

 clearly shown on the five-year-old lawn plots. Complete changes in grasses 

 have been brouglit about by fertilizers, but during the change crab grass 

 has been very prominent on both acid and alkaline plots. This is due to 

 the fact that the grass that is being discouraged by a fertilizer is not 

 replaced rapidly enough by another grass, the vacancies being taken by 

 crab grass. On no plots where clover was plentiful was crab grass ob- 

 served. Many varieties of weeds are found on the alkaline plots, and 

 only a few on the acid. 



The series of plots to determine the desirability of adding phosphoric 

 acid and potash to nitrogenous fertilizers shows, after four years, that 

 on rather heavy soil potash is not desirable. Bents are doing best on the 

 plot receiving acid nitrogen plus phosphoric acid; fescues show best on the 

 plots receiving acid nitrogen alone; and the blue grasses find weed compe- 

 tition too great in the plots receiving alkaline nitrogen plus phosphoric 

 acid plus potash. 



The putting green plots were used to make observations which might 

 help in the accurate prediction of attacks of the brown patch disease. 

 Seven attacks occurred, all of which started between the temperatures of 

 62° and 68° F., after a heavy saturation of the soil from rain or the grass 



