232 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 280 



Other phases of the more comprehensive project have progressed to the fol- 

 lowing extent: 



1. In a study on nitrogen partition to determine what portion of the nitro- 

 gen in grasses is combined in true protein and what portion may be combined in 

 the amino form or in the even simpler forms of ammonia and nitrates, 26 samples 

 of grass have been analyzed. Half of these came from quite heavily fertilized 

 pastures and the other half from unfertilized pastures. Some of them were from 

 the college and experiment station fanns, others came from Middlesex and Wor- 

 cester Counties. Two samples of a pure stand of white clover, one fertilized and 

 the other unfertilized, were also included in the study. The analyses showed: 



In fertilized grass, the amino nitrogen constituted approxmiately 11.3 per 

 cent of the total nitrogen; in unfertilized grass, it amounted to about 8.5 per 

 cent of the total nitrogen. 



In fertilized white clover, the amino nitrogen was slightly over 23 per cent 

 of the total nitrogen; while in the unfertilized white clover, it was slightly under 

 21 per cent. 



Ammoniacal nitrogen averaged about 1.8 per cent of the total nitrogen where 

 fertilizer had been used and about 1.0 per cent where it had not been used. 



There were only slight traces of nitrate nitrogen in any of the samples. 



2. The survey of natural pastures throughout the State had to be tempo- 

 rarily suspended this year because the soil maps of the important pasture areas 

 still unsurveyed were not available, being still in process of publication. It is 

 hoped to continue and complete this phase of the work next season. Analyses 

 have been completed of forty samples taken in Worcester and Berkshire Counties 

 in 1930, and the following conclusions are offered: 



Results indicate a natural pasturage on the predominant soil types of 

 Berkshire County superior in both quantity and quality to that on the predom- 

 inant type in Worcester County. This is attributed to heavier soils with greater 

 moisture-holding capacity. 



Judged by the standard of a recognized authority, these pastures measure 

 up quite well. In general the only deficiency suggested is in the element phos- 

 phorus. 



The ratio of calcium to phosphorus is probably too high, due partly to the 

 low phosphorus content and (in the case of at least one soil type) partly to a 

 rather high calcium content. 



3. The study of the chemical composition of different species of grass in- 

 volved the collection in 1930 of 50 samples of grass from plots growing pure 

 stands of timothy, redtop, blue grass and white clover; and the collection in 

 1931 of 60 samples from plots of orchard grass, sheep fescue, Rhode Island bent, 

 and Canada blue grass, in addition to the above-mentioned species. Analysis of 

 the 1930 samples has been completed and studied in detail. Analysis of the 

 1931 samples is now in progress. Conclusions on this phase of the work are 

 withheld until more data have been accumulated. 



Utilization of Onions by Canning. (C. P. Jones). This is a continuation 

 of the study reported in the annual report for 1929 (Bulletin 260). Work during 

 the past year has been confined largely to a study of the Yellow Clobe onion 

 and its behavior during and subsequent to canning. 



Onions put up by the Department of Horticultural Manufactures and held 

 in tin containers for two years, adsorbed more of the corrosion products of the 

 can than was found in the liquor. Amounts determined were influenced some- 



