The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-05-04
A@rICUITUHAI.
.s.4..y., an the Cultivation of the Cranberry.

culture January H. 1000.
Csxr1EaEs or THE STATE BOARD or AGRr
ryrtrr-Rr. Our subject embraces two primary
DIVISIONS: First, the cranberry in general. and
What is known by the labora of others IN us
cultivation; and secondly, the cranberry region
II Indiana the facilities of our State for It's
cultivation, and something Of what We have
done in the prosecution of this valuable but
neglected branch Of agriculture.
The first division OF our subject Is but little
lse than a literal quotation Of what is deemed
saluable in the able report Of Secretary lint
p he Massachusetts State Board OF ASrcul-
IRE, interspersed with information derived
fom other sources-thus gathering together
lie scattered shreds Of information, and rem
leriug them compact and accessible.
That information upon this subject has been
leretofore so meagre and neutrality-suspicious.
tur own State has every facility for The sue
3ssfut cultivation Of the cranberry-and the
atural desire to remove some distractions,
.oyeyer feebIy and imperfectly from the
ah Of those who may succeed us in this en-
erprse, must be our apology for the magni-
Tile of the task before US, we'll as the man
ser Of its execution.
Tie common American cranberry Is a Ma
i've ~ North America. 1t grows and Hour
shes in messy swamps and boys, a. Wen as
IA sandy soils, from high northern ATTITUDES to
u on the west,
The stem of this species is larger than that
81 the small or European cranberry, and IS
commonly from foot to four or five feet IN
ength. 1t is sometimes much longer. throw
ing up many rising branches. sometimes to
he height of eight or ten inches. The leaves
are about one half an inch long, and nearly
,ne-fourth of an inch broad, the second year,
when full grown. On the new spring branch
IS, which bear the flowers and berries. they
ire crowded towards the top. The flowers
frequently in pairs, very elegant, held to-
wards the end of the new spring branches by |
erect, reddish stalks. much bent near the ends
giving them, together with the caix and tow-
# bud, before expanding, the appearance Of
rane's neck, head and bill, whence 1t derives
Is name, crane6eryy or cranberry.
The flowers continue to grow until Imma-
are berries are produced on the stem in July, /
nd nj some instance even into August. The .
berries are Of yellowish green before ripen-
ng, aud when ripe are Of bright scarlet or
trnine color, and in some varieties nearly .
black, light and speckled with deep red,
.erying in shape from round to oval oblong.
boul one half of an inch in diameter, of an
greeable acid taste, and often clinging to the
iues during the whole winter 1t grows nat
llalIy in watery boys and morasses, and
0metimes on high mountains 1t grows lux
Iriautly on marshes exposed to and covered
by high tides--on coarse sand, perfectly white
md entirely destitute of organic matter ofany
Iind, though accessible to moisture-on pine
lcat-on peat covered with sand-on dry.
oamy, and gravely upland on the rich
garden mold, thoroughly TILED.
ANALYSIS.
4 valuable analysis of this fruit has recent
.y been made by Prof +. N. Horsford, Of Cam
1t,dge. From this analysis it appears that the
Fir centage Of water is SO 70
.ar centage Of ash, II
Woody fibre. tissues. organic acids and
otherorganic matter, not decomposed, Ills
10000
From this analysis it will be seen that only
"a hundredths per cent. or less than two
snths of one per cent. Of cranberry, is found
! the ash, as inorganic matter derived from
soil, all the rest being derived from the at
iosphere and from water.
The results of experience are therefore strl-
- ,ly corroborated by the deductions of sci
nee, that the cranberry will grow where no
ling else will. 1t explains, too. how it is
lal this fruit seems to require nothing for its
erlect development but air and water.
MODE OF CULTIVATION.
The cranberry may be propagated from the
ead or from cuttings. or by transplanting-
lho first crop obtained by planting the seed.
vii ordinarily be a year or two later than that
reduced by the wild plants transplanted. 1t
therefore found to be more profitable to
1lusplant. except in one or two sections of the
State, where the interest liz TRANSFORMING has
been So great that $40 square rod is not
uncommon price for plants, where the ground
thiclly covered.
Where 1t is desired 10 propagate by slips or
'uttlngs. the usual practice is to gather a large
iuantity of vines. and run them through a
COMMON hay cutter, till they are reduced to the
ength desired-an inch or so-when they
nay be sown broadcast and narrowed in; tho
/, i considered best. on some accounts. TO sow
drills and cover properly. These slips
cry soon take root, starting from the base of
he leaves, and at the same time shooting up
many rising branches.
II Sown broadcast and narrowed, they
hould not be overlooked till the slips have
AIKEN root, as otherwise, many remaining
oyerei will be foated off
In the of cranberries growing wild. it
2 common and well known practice to flow
or cover them with water during the winter
md early spring. This is very desirable. il
he situation is such as TO allow it, though it
not generally considered essential BY those
who have been most successful. 1t is often
lseful, where there facilities for flowing.
let the water remain few inches deep till
he spring is well advanced (some think till
1e first of May or even later TO rstard the
,lossoming till there is no danger from frosts
facilities for flowing are desirable in the calfi-
'gtioa of cranberres also; and if the planta-
ion could be so arranged as to flow very
quickly. it might be of essential service, oc-
'asionally, during the spring or autumn.
As the cranberry. in its natural state, is
more frequently found growing in low, wet
swamp or marsh. that kind Of land is general
v selected for Is cultivation The mode Of