The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-12-07
asrifultural.
Cranberry Culture.

the very sensible opinion that preserves mad,
sufficiently rich 10 keep Throughout, tn,
year, are bot poorly adapted TO preserve the
health Of those who swallow them. Gran
berries, or the other hand, are fas, gaining
in public favor, as an article easily kept in
its natural state, quickly done up for an
occasion, and afTording an agreeable acid
no, injurious but b:ngfeiai 10 health. Hence
the increasing demand for them and hence
the probability tha, the price will not fall il
proportion, as the supply increases, bu
tha, the consumption will keep pace with
the supply, and remuneraiing prices be
maintained and hence also, a reason for
copying the following from an address by
John A. Burbank, before the Indiana Leg is.
laiure, last wlnter.-NaSh's Farmer.
"The cranberry may be propaga,ed from
the seed, or from cutting, or by transplant.
ing. The fir', crop obtained from planting
the seed will ordinarily, be year or two
later than ;ha, produced by wild plant,
transplanied. Its, therefore, found 10 be
more profitable to transplant, except in one
or two sections Of the State, where the in
,erest in transplan,ing has been so great
that $40 square rod is not an uncommon
price flr plans, where the ground is thick
ly covered
Where it is desired to propagate BY slips
or cuttings, The usual practice is TO ga,hel
a large quantity Of vines, and run them
through common hay-cutter, until they
are reduced TO the length desirej-an inch
or so-when they may be sown broldna at
and narrowed in though il Is consider ed
best, on some accounts, to sow in drills, and
cover properly. These slips very soon take
root, starting from the base Of the leaves,
and shooting up many rising branches.
In case Of cranberries growing wild, it is
"a common and well known practice TO flow
or cover them with wafer, during the win.
ter and early spring. This is very desire
able, il the situation is such as to allow il
though ], is not generally considered essen
lial by those who have been most success
fol. II is often useful where there are iacil
tiles for flowing, to let the water remain a
few inches deep till the spring is well adj
yanced, lsome think till the fra. Of May
or even la,er,) to re,ard the blossoming i'll
there is no danger from frosis. Facilitie:
for flowing are desirable in the cultivation
Of cranberries also /; and il the plantation
could be so arranged as to flow very quick
ly, il might be Of essential service, occa
siOually, during the spring and autumn.
As the cranberry, in its natural state, il
more frequently found growing in a low,
wet swamp or marsh, that kind Of land is
generally selected for its cultivation. The
mode Of setting out the cranberry in such O
swamp, five suppose il TO be covered with
bushes and grass and surrounded by a sandy
soil, or in the immediate neigborhood oI
sand, would be as follows: first, Gu. The
bushes and pare off the surface turf to thu
depth Of three or four inches, so as 10 re
move as Ear as possible, the roots Of grasses
and bushes; then level the whole, by fill
ing in sand 10 the depth Of from Two to fou
o: five inches, according TO circumstances
Il Is desirable tha. the surface Of the sand
should he raised but slightly above ,h'
level OF the water OF the swamp, meadow
or pond filled up, so that by digging int
the sand with the hand or hoe, the water
may be found within two or three inches o
the surface.
The plants should be taken up with The
spade, square ,urfs Of tho thickness Of two
or three inches, this being the depth Il
which the roots generally descend. WheI
the ground has been leveled and preparet
as directed above. /, will be convenient Il
draw straigh, lines and Sc, the roots abou
eighteen inches apart one way, and one foo
the other, in small clusters OF about five o
six together, the grasses taken up will
them in the turf having first been removes
from them. The practice Of some has beef
TO Sc, the turf, thus taken up, into the rov
without removing the grass, but the vine
are so tenacious OF life ,ha, there is it'll
danger Of their dying, even il all the naiur
al earth is removed from their roots, an'
those who have followed this method hav'
generally less trouble in the subsequen
cultivation.
Some prefer TO set them in rows at
greater distance apart, having the rows iw
and half or three feet, and tho plants ont
foot in the rows. 1.-THE sand is thick an'
loose, so as to make j, impraciicable to cul
,ivaie the vines and pull up the weeds AM
grasses, on account Oi the danger Of s'ariin
the roots, the closer the plants are set 'h
better. since they will thus the sooner cove
the ground and ge, the advantage Of IN
grasses. Where II Is intended TO hoe III
plants in such situations, 4 foo, each wa
will probably be the mos, convenient di'
rance between the plants.
There has been some difference Of opin
II