ANNUAL REPORT, 1947-48 31 



The Investigation of Agricultural Waste Products. I. The Chemical Investi- 

 gation of Lignin. (Emmett Bennett.) Attempts to increase the nitrogen con- 

 tent of lignin have been continued. Lignin was again oxidized by pure oxygen 

 in a medium of concentrated ammonium hydroxide. It is known that organic 

 compounds of phenolic nature absorb oxygen when dissolved in an alkaline 

 solution. Ammonification appeared to take place simultaneously with oxidation. 

 A maximum of over 8 percent of total nitrogen was obtained by oxidation for a 

 period of 144 hours. The amounts of nitrogen combined, however, were not 

 entirely proportional to the length of time of oxidation. The amount of am- 

 moniacal nitrogen was approximately 34 percent of the total in all cases. This 

 amount of nitrogen, which appears to be about the maximum attainable under 

 the conditions, supports an hypothesis regarding the chemical structure of lignin. 



In order to determine the extent to which changes were made during oxidation, 

 the alkali lability test was used. Oxidations in this case were brought about in 

 0.2N sodium hydroxide. While it is doubtful whether a significant increase in 

 the alkali number was obtained by oxidation for different intervals of time in 

 ■sodium hydroxide, the number was significantly higher than that for samples 

 ■oxidized in ammonium hydroxide. 



That the size of the alkali number is, to a considerable extent, a function of 

 the phenolic groups may be seen from the fact that when lignin is methylated, 

 the alkali number becomes nearly zero. Furthermore the fixation of nitrogen 

 seems to be dependent upon the hydroxyl groups, since nitrogen does not appear 

 to be fixed to any extent in methylated lignin by oxidation with pure oxygen in 

 concentrated ammonium hydroxide. 



These data would tend to indicate that the formation of humus from lignin 

 in the soil could be brought about by changes occurring in the hydroxyl groups. 



THE CRANBERRY STATION 

 East Wareham, Massachusetts 



H. J. Franklin in Charge 



Administration. As provided by the legislature, a cranberry extension specialist 

 was added to the official staff at the Cranberry Station in October, 1947, Mr. J. 

 Richard Beattie, County Agricultural Agent of the Plymouth County Extension 

 Service, taking this position. He will have over-all charge of the cranberry 

 extension work in all Massachusetts counties interested in the cultivation of 

 this fruit. 



General. Severe drouth with high temperatures and excessive sunshine in 

 August did much to curtail the 1947 Massachusetts cranberry crop and depre- 

 ciate its condition. This and record high temperatures in October were very 

 harmful to a satisfactory marketing of the fresh fruit. 



The general terminal fall and winter budding of cranberry vines in Massachu- 

 setts in preparation for the 1948 crop was conspicuously good, in very marked 

 contrast to that of the previous year which was notably poor. 



Injurious and Beneficial Insects Affecting the Cranberry. (H. J. Franklin.) 

 The second part of the work on cranberry insects — that dealing with pests not 

 worm-like and attacking mainly the cranberry foliage and fruit — was finished 

 and presented for publication. The insect and disease control chart was revised 

 and brought up to date. 



