Western Reserve chronicle and weekly transcript of the times. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1854-1855, 1855-02-21
CRANBERRY CULTURE.

The kind most known and best adapted
to all kinds of soil, is the Bell Variety
or Egg Shaped, and most.cultivated in
New England. They can be propsgated
from the seed. or from cuttings, or By
transplanting. The last method is mSst
frequently adopted. The first crop OBJ
tanned by planting the seed viii be one
or two years later than thatproduced By
transplanting. When cultivated, the
berries are large and abundant; altar
being gathered, they turn from lightscsr-
let to deep red, and sometimes almos
black. They viii keep a very long tim
if not gathered too early. They shoul,
remain on the vines until tits. necessary
to gather them from the frost. They
should be properly dried by spreading
them thin for three or four weeks; they
can then be packed and sent to any part
of the world. II gathered too early,
while some of the berries are green, they
will not keep. =.
Thesoil most suitable for their growth
is poor swampy land. where nothing else
viii grow. They grow naturally On
watery bogs and marshes. and bear
abundantly on marshes covered with
coarse sand. entirely destitute of organ
ie matter of any kind, but accessible to
moisture-on pure peat covered with
sand, and on every variety Of soil, ex-
eept clay or sand. liable to become hard
and bake in dry weather but notso abund-
antly on dry soil. (unlsss treated as rec
commended by Mr.. Bates of Mass. He
has raised 800 bushels to the acre, by
spreading a quantity of meadow muck
on the soil. After narrowing the sod,
plant them in drills. For cultivating the
Cranberry on poor swsmpy land it should
be drained, land the surface taken oG
for compost heap) and sand or gravel
carted in, or plowed and narrowed;
sometimes it can be burnt over, so as to
get it in condition to set cut the plants
then lay out the ground as you would
for setting Cabbage, Strawberry or other
plants. Have a pointed stick or dibble,
and make a hole for the plant--haFs
the roots emerged in muddy wster 50
thick as to adhere to the roOt-plaee Is
in the hole, and press the dirt very close
ly around it. To have the rows uniform,
draw a line and put the plants, Is By
20inches. in rows-where small patches
are desired. which can be kept clean
with hoe-the nearer they are togeth-
er the quicker they cover the ground
but where acres are planted, it viii save
much labor by putting them 2to II feet
apart, then plow or harrow can be used
to keep out the grass and weeds until
they cover the ground.
At IS inches apart, it will take 900
plants 2 feet. 10000; 81 feet 1000
plants to the acre. After one or two
years cultivation, to keep out the grass,
they will take care Of themselves. Where
the ground is shaky or loose, two or three
inches of sand is sufficient on the SUR
face.
A more simple mode-where there is
hardly anything but brushes and bogs,
then strike hoe into the soil, and raise
it little to insert the roots and press the
soil slightly with the foot.
They can be planted ous in the fall at
the North, from September until the
ground freezes. or in the Spring until the
middle or last of May-at the South
from January until April. Every family
can have their garden patch in that case,
and in dryish soil, grass, meadow muck
or tan around the plant, which viii be
beneficial to retain the moisture No
animal or vegetable manure should Be
used, as the fruit draws most of its moist
ure from the atmosphere. The poorer
the soil theless cultivation nseded. The
first year they often bear so bushels 10
the acre, and increase every year, until
sometimes they bear from 200 to 500
bushels per acre. Perhaps the net sT-
erage is from 100 to $50 bushels per
acre.
They are highly ornamental in pots
the fruit hanging on the plants until
the blossom appears for the next crop.
One man with rake made for the
purpose, viii gather from thirty to forty
bushels a day, with boy to pick up the
scattering ones.
Prices-under 500 plants so cts. per
100. for 10000. 80 cts. per 100.
A genius out West was invited to taks
a game of poker, but he refused, saying,