78 



MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 198. 



The samples for analysis invariably consisted of the firm, hard berries, 

 with no evidence of decay. Some of the analytical results make it appear 

 possible that selected lots of berries like these do not necessarily show 

 progressive changes in composition for the average fruit of the early part 

 of the season, but that the later berries are resistant to decay by less active 

 cell organization and lower rate of metabolism. 



In 1917 the Early Black cranberries picked from the little bogs at the 

 Experiment Station were sampled and analyzed on September 25, soon after 

 picking. The remainder was divided into two portions, one of which was 

 placed in a refrigerator, and the other was left on a shelf in the basement 

 at a temperature a little above the outside air on the average. These lots 

 were sampled and analyzed four weeks later. The two lots were then 

 allowed to stand until January, 1918, when the refrigerator lot was freed 

 from all soft berries and sampled; while the Lot from the basement was 

 divided into two portions, one consisting of firm, sound berries, and the 

 other, while free from rotten fruit, consisting of berries that were soft and 

 rubber-like in physical appearance. Analyses of these lots of berries 

 showed some striking differences. 



Table III. — Composition of Early Black Cranberries under Different 

 Conditions of Storage. 



The character of the package in which cranberries are stored and shipped 

 has been closely related to changes in the properties of the fruit. In the 

 course of storage investigations, made to determine the causes of cran- 

 berry spoilage after harvesting. Shear and Stevens observed a considera- 

 ble number of berries that were soft, but which contained no organisms of 

 decay. ^ Since the more thoroughly oxygen was excluded from the fruit 

 the larger the quantity of softened berries, the trouble appeared to be 

 caused by the lack of ventilation, and the berries were regarded as asphyxi- 

 ated. 



In December, 1917, Dr. Stevens brought to the laboratory directly 



1 Proc. Amer. Cranberry Growers' Assoc. 48 (1917), pp. 6-9. Mass. Agr. Expt. Sta. Ann. Rept. 

 30 (1918), pp. 235-239. 



