ANNUAL REPORT, 1939 45 



ity for agricultural development, represented mostly by soils both moist and of 

 good texture; 33.4 percent of only limited adaptability; and 27.4 percent unsuitable 

 for regular agricultural utilization, on account of being either too rough and stony 

 or too wet or dry. The correlation of soil types and topographical conditions with 

 present land uses by individual areas indicates the extent and character of ad- 

 justments to be carried out in a community under existing local economic and 

 social opportunities. 



The results of this study are being put to practical use in connection with the 

 town rural policy committees which are being organized for the purpose of com- 

 prehensive land-use planning in rural areas of the Commonwealth. In forty- 

 five towns where these committees have been organized, information obtained 

 in this study has been used as a basis for working out a detailed program of local 

 planning and land-use development. 



DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING 



C. I. Gunness in Charge 



Cranberry Storage Investigation. (C. I. Gunness, H. J. Franklin, and C. R. 

 Fellers.) The work on storage was continued through the 1939 season. Berries 

 were held at 35° and 45° in cold storage and in two screen houses operated by 

 growers. The results obtained were consistent with the results obtained in former 

 years. The storage losses on berries stored from September 10 to November 10 

 under the three conditions, 35°, 45°, and common storage, were 2.7, 5.5, and 

 11.3 percent, respectively; and from September 10 to November 30, the losses 

 were 6.7, 9.0, and 17.0 percent in the corresponding storages. 



Frost Protection on Cranberry Bogs. (C. I. Gunness.) The work on frost 

 protection on cranberry bogs through the use of a wind machine was continued 

 during the past year. The machine was originally set up as a stationary unit 

 on one side of the bog. During the past season it was mounted on a turntable 

 with the plan of placing it in the center of a dry bog. So far it has been used only 

 on the side of the bog. While the results obtained are quite encouraging, it is 

 felt that insufficient data have been obtained to warrant a statement as to the 

 efficiency of this type of frost protection. 



Poultry House Investigation. (C. I. Gunness and W. C. Sanctuary.) A study 

 of the use of electric brooders in insulated and noninsulated colony houses was 

 started this fall. An insulated house will be heated by an electric heater and in 

 two noninsulated houses the floor is heated by means of soil cable in an attempt 

 to keep the litter dry. Another part of the study will be devoted to the effective- 

 ness of insulation in providing a dry, comfortable laying house. 



DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY 

 Charles P. Alexander in Charge 



Investigation of Materials which Promise Value in Insect Control. (A. I. 



Bourne and W. D. Whitcomb, Waltham.) 



Oil Sprays for Dormant Applications. Climatic conditions during the late 

 winter and early spring of 1939 were characterized by low temperatures and heavy 



