236 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 180. 



three days the oxygen of the air was practically exhausted, and more than 

 35 per cent, by volume of carbon dioxide had accumulated. Under these 

 conditions, as well as in cartons tightly wrapped, "The fruit softened and 

 had the characteristic bad flavor of fruit confined in an atmosphere of 

 carbon dioxide" (3, p. 22), 



Dr. Charles Brooks and Dr. E. M. Harvey of this office, who have sepa- 

 rately studied storage conditions in apples and other fruits, examined the 

 cranberries referred to and were of the opinion that the condition might 

 very likely be due to the accumulation of an excessive amount of carbon 

 dioxide. Although it was then too late in the season (November 20) to 

 undertake a thorough investigation of the subject, preliminary tests were 

 made which gave results of considerable interest. 



Temperature Tests in Open and Closed Cans. 



In order to compare directly the keeping of cranberries in open and 

 closed cans, uniform lots of sound berries were divided, one portion being 

 placed in tightly closed cans, and the other portion in similar cans with the 

 covers removed. The result of one of these tests, which is typical of sev- 

 eral, is given in the following tables: — 



Temperature Tests on Howes from State Bog, Massachusetts, beginning 



November 21, ending December 16. 



Closed Cans. 



Open Cans. 



It will be noted that in all cases the amount of spoilage is greater in the 

 closed cans than in the open cans. 



