ANNUAL REPORT, 1932 47 



The net gain in nine years by the application of 225 pounds per acre of nitrogen 

 was 1223 pounds of dry matter, while the nitrogen contained in the crops practi- 

 cally balanced. The fertilizer nitrogen appeared to stimulate growth at seme 

 stage, due possibly to its immediate availability, without ultimately increasing 

 the content of the element except in the non-leguminous crops interspersed in the 

 series. The leguminous crops from the plots without nitrogen, four times out of 

 six, contained more nitrogen than those from the nitrogen group. 



The results of this fertilizer experiment are now being prepared in more detail 

 for publication. They suggest a new comparison between atmospheric nitrogen 

 compounds synthesized by bacteria and those synthesized by factory processes 

 by continuing the legumes and non-legumes, but substituting the newer nitrogen 

 compounds for the former standard fertilizers. 



Chemical Study of Cranberries. (F. W. Morse.) Twenty-three varieties 

 of cranberries were analyzed, ten of which were from Wisconsin and thirteen from 

 New Jersey. The samples were procured by Dr. H. J. Franklin in connection 

 with his comparative studies of cranberry varieties. No information was avail- 

 able regarding dates of picking from the vines. 



The analyses were made during January of this year (1932), and the berries were 

 removed from cold storage as needed. Water, total sugar, and total acid were de- 

 termined. Eight varieties were belov/ 3 percent in sugar content, which indicates 

 fruit immature when picked. Eleven were between 3 and 3.5 per cent and one 

 contained 4 per cent total sugar. Total acid ranged from 2.05 to 2.71 per cent 

 which is within the limits found in past seasons. 



Two varieties were notably superior in the proportion of sound fruit in January. 

 Searls Jumbo from Wisconsin and Budds Blue from New Jersey were more than 

 85 per cent sound when sorted by hand. F"ourteen were less than two-thirds 

 sound, which shows the risk in holding cranberries in storage to extend the market 

 period. 



The two varieties above named illustrate the comparatively narrow difference 

 in chemical composition between extreme types ot cranberries. Searls Jumbo is a 

 juicy berry of high quality. Budds Blue is dry and firm in texture. Analysis 

 gave the following results in percentages. 



Water Total Sugar Total Acid 



Searls Jumbo 87.9 4.02 2.33 



Budds Blue 86.6 2.61 2.20 



Astringent matter was determined in several varieties, of which these two 

 represented the extreme range — Searls Jumbo, 0.19 per cent; Budds Blue, 0.37 

 per cent. The astringent matter in the cranberry appears to consist of a glucoside 

 with a bitter taste rather than tannin, although qualitative tests show traces of 

 tannin to be present. 



Ouinic acid was determined in 13 of the varieties by the tentative method men- 

 tioned last year. The range in approximate percentages was from 0.38 to 1.03 

 per cent. The two varieties mentioned above were practically alike, with approx- 

 imately 0.7 per cent of the acid. 



In the course of the cranberry studies, a quantity of the cranberry wax has been 

 accumulated for the purpose of studying its properties. 



Milk Substitutes in the Growing of Young Calves. (J. B. Lindsey.) 

 This project has been completed and the manuscript prepared for publication. 

 The general conclusion was that it is quite desirable to feed calves some liquid 

 food until they are two months of age, and the time can well be extended a month 



