THE KEEPII^G QUALITY OF CRAXBEKKIES, 11 



havins: about one-third more rotten berries than those which were 

 hand-picked. A single test does not furnish a sufficient basis for 

 safe conclusions, but it seems probable that this method will have to 

 be confined to the growers who have imusually large and well- 

 ventilated storehouses and who are able to dispose of their crops 

 fairly early in the season. 



During the season of 1920 an attempt was made to determine the 

 length of time during which cranberries may safely be submerged 

 before picking. Unfortunately, these tests were delayed until the 

 very last of September, when the water was cold, and the results 

 were inconclusive. 



SUMMARY. 



Investigations carried on through three seasons in Wisconsin indi- 

 cate that ventilation is of great importance in the storage of water- 

 raked cranberries, as of cranberries harvested in other ways. 



Green berries are more easily injured in water-raking than ripe 

 (fully colored) berries. 



Cool water and water having a high oxygen content are much less 

 likely to cause injury in water-raking than warm water or that having 

 a low oxygen content. 



Water used in flooding Wisconsin cranberry marshes varies con- 

 siderably in oxygen content. 



The oxygen content of water in reservoirs and on the flooding 

 sections of marshes increases during clear days and decreases at night. 



Under the most favorable conditions the writers have been able to 

 obtain, the keeping quality of water-raked cranberries was somewhat 

 inferior to that of dry-raked berries from the same sections and about 

 equal to hand-picked berries. 



Berries which are permitted to remain wet for some time after 

 water-raking show decidedly poorer keeping quality than those 

 quickly dried and are, of course, inferior to those which are hand- 

 picked or dry-raked. 



PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS. 



Whether berries shall be water-raked, dry-raked, or hand-picked 

 must be decided by each grower and for each marsh separately, after 

 taking into consideration the cost of the various methods, the avail- 

 able labor, the kind and quantity of water available, and especially 

 his experience with the marsh as regards the keeping quality of the 

 fruit produced. 



If water-raking is undertaken, the berries should be under water as 

 short a time as possible, should be well colored when harvested, and 

 should be dried as promptly as possible. 



