New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-12-01
CRANBERRY CUL TURE And ITS Diff
CULTfES.

correspondence ofThe NJ Y. Tribune.
DENNIS, Mass, Wednesday, Nov. %, 1855.
Most new enterprises and undertakings have
leen attended with difficulty. For the want Of
correct knowledge, based upon experience, d,sp
pointment and failure have frequently been the
result of efforts iich have been sought to be
crowned with succeeds. There is not the common
est root or vegetable on the farm but what demands
knowledge and experience in its management.
There are individuals who suddenly determine
upon lesving city store or counting room, to
make choice of a farmers profession as the Oae
which they intend To follow in the future of their
ives Any person who knows but little Of agr
culture is certain of this, that such an inexpe
repced tyrO is cure to meet with difficulties in his
lew calling, which will be discOursging; and be-
ause he cannot make the soil yield in that
0undance his cspriciOus mind desires, he ia too
to abandon the pillow and the spade, making
10 obstacles which lie 10 his path the reason for
dnitting his new profession. The difficulties lie
not so much in the soil as they do in himself The
coil is ready to give its increase to those who know
how to call it forth, while from such as do not it
whhOlds its strength.
This has been the case with some of the grow
ers and would be cutivstors OF the famous cram
berry. For want of knowledge and experience
their plants suffered running entirely to vines,
others yielding in such small quantities that they
we're discouraged, and abandoned the undertaking
10 one that would not pay.
TIE cranberry vine in it's wild condition does
BOT seem 10 offer much temptation 10 thrifty
farmer, because it appears such stunted, barren
thing that few would imagine it could be turned
10 profitable account He must have been saga
tious man, and bold withal, who saw that he could
make the cranberry an article Of profitable com
nerce. ard determined upon 30 doing To rescue
this vine from the bogs and swamps was in former
times no email undertaking; but nov the DUN
cul,es are fewer, from the fact that farmers have
the erieDce Of the first culvatofs to fall back
upon.
In Dennis. Mass, one of the largest and most
successful cranberry localities perhaps 70 be found
IN the United States, attention was drawn to thus
fruit some forty years ago. 1t was found In low,
,ysmpy place The proprietor began to bestow
little care upon the vine; by doing so he perceived
that thu fruit improved in favor, color aud size;
but still be was not properly alive to all the al
,sntaees connected with this berry, hence the vine
would in some measure suffer from the want OF
care and attention.
bow. whose father owned a swamp IN which
tie cranberry aourished, removed some OF the
vines and set them out carelessly by the side OF
pond. For doing this he was derided, aud plaloly
told that they would not come 70 nythog Dht
after all they did flourish aud do well, and thus a
little was gained by this simple effort IL proved
TIA; the cranberry was susceptible OF great I'LL
proyement. e
II IL ,bout ffteenyears since the minds OF
many were awakened 70 this subject, and since
then several have determined To make trial TO
cultivate the cranberry. Those who hrst under
took this were tbickly despatched with
rsm,rks. and told that il would be useless az
TEMPT. Five years elapsed, aud they had estao-
hAed this fact that the cranberry couid De cuiV-
ystea and made useful 70 the farmer, as market
able commodity.
Ahout ten Years since those who owned patches
Of swampy land, began 20 turn their attention 70
them and resol ged upon making the cranberry
leading article Of Importance and pront on toelr
farms I'm 10 that time little was known OF how
the vine was 10 be msnsged
Tie first cultiva'Ors were beset with dlhcu'Iesi
these were numerous, and so great were my
deemed that some individuals gave up IN despair
These difficulties we will briefly sketch, that the
reader who coDtemplstes making cranberry
yard may not be discouraged by what he may deem
hsrdshps and obstacles In bis way.
There was general iQno an,e Of the nature and
habits of the vine. Some vines we're found on the
edges Of swamps and ponds, but toeir runners
would seem to avoid the wafer and seek the dry
upland. This led 10 the opinion that dry situs-
ton was best adapted 10 the wants Of the Gran
berry Accordingly some pla 9ted the vine in loca.
lions that we're rather dry and arid. They fingered
on for a time, looked sickly, blghted and stuoted
in their growth, yielding but little or no fruit
Some who tried this method we're discouraged.
The cranbeIry.viue is likewise found away from
Ae edge, of the hogs and swsmps Situated in
tLe.e ne email mounds and tufts of grass aud soil
that arr o be met 10 absr dance. On these
eleyt Ns vine is often found; it will throw its
rune o to he water, and from thus fact tae
eor, .asiOp rived at by many was that the vine
absol".v ded situation like the one described,
and it soG , well enough. They tried to imi-
late natsre Ms respect and failed; they gave
them too niue water and drowned them.
The que tiC9 location was another source OF
trouble. & = a. a plant in swamps, aud 9th
ere In dry simL1Ns. 'One would select south
erly aspect, AID other : northerly one. There
was no rule OF eyperehce 70 the commencement