New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-22
CRANBERRY CULTURE.


Ceus.yers.ree II Tie ~ y. rns1s
CAP. COP, Mas, Tuesday, Jan. :, 1855.
From pile Of letters now before me, which have
been addressed to this place by readers of The y L.
Tsisusy from all parts OF the Union Canada included
| an enabled 10 form some idea OF the csuse- which
have operated against the successful cultivation OF the
Cranberry Vine. perceive that many sgucuturiSt'
have attempted TO produce this profitable fruit nom
almost every variety Of soil aud location but most have
been defeated and seem 10 be al loss to discover the
reason why. In the majority OF letters have re-
ceived the writers seem 10 have the advantages Of
peat swamps and boys which have rich muck that
s moist at all in the year. In other cases the
vine has been planted in sterile upland ros, and they
have been killed the rst season after they were -ci
out explained in q previous letter the method OF
naturalizing the lovland vine TO the upland. WA
not revert to that subject at present but viii state that
Mr. Trowbridge of Connection, has favored me with
communication on vine which has recently been us
covered by Prof Shepard in British America, and the
Professor in letter 10 me states that
il aourishes in the most barren and sterile
soils | expect in few days specimens
Of this upland cranberry with statements upon It's
yielding powers, and will in future letter can stten-
ZION 10 The OrgcOccHs Pdlastris, which u perfectly
ADAPTED by nature to flourish in the dryesy and poorest
soils When this variety of vine Is brought within the
reach of farner see no reason why all VIII not De
Able TO cultivate either the swamp cranberry or the
bic and highly remunerstve.
Peat in the estimation of those who grow the swamp
cranberry stands next TO beach-sand as beng excel
lentv adapted TO develop the vine ana truN pM
vbv -maDy have been defeated in their attempts 70
raise the iruit on this soil evident from the demands
of the vine and the method by which It has been pre-
pared for the reception at the plant
One gentleman informs me that be undertook 20
raise the cranberry on peat swamp, but has failed
10 reap any advantage from what he has done. lie
removed from the surface OF his swamp the turf aud
rank grass and he had done tn, set out h
vine. supposing that they would flourish anu pay MIN
Handsomely for what he had expended upon them
But he has failed, and now asks Why! In every IN
stance where this method has been pursued, either
lere or elsewhere, better luck hss been met with
than he had. -,
In the case TO which have just referred, md that
!, il hut a sample of = hundred Others upon which
have been addressed; and the following answer based
upon experience, will, believe meet their case:
II YOU have peat swamp, and design converting II
into cranberry yard your rs step TO he taken Is to
find level that il not too wet, snd then clear on the
tf or grass sods aud bring the rest OF the swamp 10
N. same hight When ii is thus cleared and levecd
Of il is not then ready for the reception Of the vine
Sloud the viBe be planted il will do well through tue
Winter aud Spring but in the hottest weather the peat
| will bake and become hard it will Therefore he I'M
possible to take in the moisture OF the atmosphere,
which is absolutely required by the vne The absence
of ills moisture will cause the plant to die aud thu.
both labor and money are lost. This will bopreVened
by leaving the prepared swamp exposed TO the acton
the frost tor one W inter, Nbtu IL aiAc' ~ ~
| tlawed crumble and present light greyely appear
nnce the largest Jumps of which will not exceed an
ordinary pebble. When the swamp has tsus oeen
treated il will not ofterward bake and become hard
! its surface will be light and porous. Where this
method las been most faithfully followed aud the vines
aierward planted, have seen the yield OF such yard'
in the third year nearly cover the original cost OF prep
nreton, vines and planting. m
In many swamps the land j. so spOnSy that WI
not admit of person going upon it without his sink
ing to depth of two or three feet Were it possible
to plant such situation, extreme difficulty would
be experie need in gathering the fruit aud the proba
biiy il that it would be very Improbable to under
take TO bring such location under cultivation without
! due caution.
A gentleman of intelligence in the State of New
| York hos attempted to form a cranberry patch on q
situation of the above description Ills vines flourish
and appear to be equal TO the very best but yet they
arc unproduCtive 1t il evident to person acquainted
with the nature and wants Of the vine, that the sltua
tion is good one, it only wanting proper management
10 make 1t productive Such locations are apt 10 bt
too wet which s favorable to producing any quantity
of vines but il unfavorable to the development Of the
bery What in this il required, is TO construct
a few small drains the extent of morass whcs
il intended 10 be planted upon, so that the soi shat
retain considerable degree OF moisture in the dryest
parts of the year, bringing it to common level and
leaving it exposed to the action OF the frost through
one " inter, that it may present a pulyerhed APP
pearancc II this can be done at moderate cost, |
see reason why it should not ultimately become a
profitable yard. Ii will be all the more likely 70 do
well providing the vines are gone over and hoed and
weeded for the first three years, taking care that toe
runners are rot interfered with and destroyed.
few wee ks since visited one Of The most product
i've cranberry patches in this region and learned that
its proprietor had pond on the verge of which the
| vine was fourishing Some years since be fledn"
few feet of this pond and the experiment ha. satisfied
him that it will be to his advantage 10 "hlI-in the
whole of it, and convert it into cranberry yard; and
! this he is doing. The advantage Of this Is that
the moisture viii up TO the surface Of the soil
with which the pond has been filed, and give to the
vine that degree of wet il requires. The soil which
he employs for this purpose is ike that in which his
vines now fourishing examined il and found It
to be such is generally prevalent barren heath,,
! a gravelly loan.
The statements found in this letter, believe, viii
meet of the difficulties which many Of the readers
of THE TRIBUNE have experienced in their attempts To
cultivate and raise the cranberry. SETTINGS