32 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 428 



DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS 

 Philip L. Gamble in Charge 



Effects of the War and Readjustments in Massachusetts Agriculture. (David 

 Rozman.) Work on this project centered largely on investigation of undeveloped 

 rural land areas as a possible factor in desirable land use adjustment of farming 

 units in the post-war period. An intensive phase of 'this study was carried out 

 in the towns of Uxbridge, Hubbardston, and Southwick. Further analysis was 

 made of AAA records and other current material in determining the trend and 

 volume of Massachusetts agricultural production. 



The preliminary results of the land use factor, especially as derived from an 

 intensive study of the towns of Uxbridge, Hubbardston, and Southwick, indicate 

 that undeveloped areas not in farms offer considerable opportunities for possible 

 readjustment of existing farm units. In some favorably located areas oppor- 

 tunities are also present for a limited number of additional farms. The limiting 

 factors are an irregular distribution of available land, the complicated pattern of 

 land ownership, and the cost of bringing the land into use. 



The findings under this project bearing on the major factors involved in agri- 

 cultural production are of continuous importance in achieving the desirable pat- 

 tern of Massachusetts agriculture under wartime conditions. They are expected 

 also to pave the way for an orderly transition to peacetime conditions and for 

 placing agriculture in the State on a more stable basis. 



In connection with this program of readjustment of Massachusetts agriculture 

 the manuscripts prepared are: (a) 1945 Wartime Production Capacity of Massa- 

 chusetts Agriculture; and (b) A Post-War Production Pattern for Massachusetts 

 Agriculture. 



DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING 

 C. I. Gunness in Charge 



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

 Bergman.) The storage of cranberries was continued during the 1944 season. 

 Berries were stored at 45 degrees in a normal atmosphere and also in a controlled 

 atmosphere where the carbon dioxide content was kept at approximately 10 

 percent, oxygen at 10 percent, and the balance was nitrogen. Berries similar 

 to those stored at 45 degrees were also stored in an air-cooled screenhouse. The 

 berries were picked and stored on September 9 but the controlled-atmosphere 

 room was not sealed until September 11. 



On September 14 the hurricane disrupted power service and service was not 

 restored until September 25. The temperature rose to 53 degrees in the two 

 rooms which were supposed to be kept at 45 degrees. 



The storage losses as determined by screening on October 6 were as follows: 

 45-degree room, normal atmosphere, 4.4 percent; 45-degree room, controlled 

 atmosphere, 2.9 percent; screenhouse, 7.1 percent. Berries stored in the con- 

 trolled atmosphere had colored less than those stored in normal atmosphere. 

 In comparing loss in the screenhouse with that in the rooms held at 45 degrees, 

 it should be recalled that the temperature in the latter rooms actually rose to 

 53 degrees between September 14 and September 25. 



Poultry House Investigation. (C. I. Gunness and W. C. Sanctuar\-.) The 

 poultry housing studies were continued during 1944-45 with special emphasis 

 on ventilation and arrangement of equipment to permit a reduction in the num- 



