152 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 206. 



perhaps having come from Wisconsin. The Bennet Jumbo variety re- 

 sembles the HoUiston. The fact that HoUiston vines are widely infected 

 warns against further planting of the variety. 



Early Black and Howes vines much affected bj^ false blossom were 

 found on two bogs in Marion. The vines of these plantings came from 

 several sources and the origin of the infection is uncertain. This disease 

 e\'idently is more widely prevalent on the Cape than has been supposed. 

 Those who start new plantings should be careful not to use vines harbor- 

 ing it. 



Fungous Injury to Small Berries caused by Submergence. 



In late July and early August, 1919, numerous tests were conducted to 

 determine the effect of submergence on the small berries. Pieces of cran- 

 berry turf, with the vines bearing berries, were immersed in Spectacle 

 Pond (East Wareham) in clear or mostly clear weather. The periods of 

 submersion were one to four days long. Early Black and Howes berries 

 from various bogs were tested comparatively in this way several times. 

 Pride and Perry Red berries also were tried. In all cases the Howes fruit 

 was hurt less by the submersion than that of the other varieties. It ap- 

 peared that this variety usually can be flooded forty-eight hours in clear 

 weather, while the berries are small, without serious immediate hami. 

 Such treatment probably would impair keeping quality, however. The 

 results with the Early Black berries varied greatly, some lots being much 

 harmed by twenty-four hours of submersion, while others seemed little 

 hurt after forty-eight hours; but generally this variety was the most 

 susceptible to injury of those treated, the Pride and Perry Red being in- 

 termediate. The water did most harm when its temperature was relatively 

 high. Some Howes lots showed but little softening when submerged in 

 cool weather four days. 



Injury incidental to submergence seemed due to rapid development of 

 putrefactive fungi. The softening of the berry always started in a small 

 spot which kept enlarging as long as the immersion continued, until it 

 included the whole fruit. The softened tissue examined microscopically 

 was found always full of mycehum. 



Dr. C. L. Shear, of the Bureau of Plant Industry, and his assistants, 

 made cultures from the softened tissues of various lots of berries from 

 these tests. The fungi found and their relative abundance are shown in 

 Table 1. 



