Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-11-05
Cranberry Culture.

The kind mos. known ard bet adapt
ed to all kinds Of soil, is the Bell variety
Of Egg shaped, and most cultivated IN
New England. y round ,ariety raisod
about Cape Cod is a large fruit, hand
some, and only grows on very wet,
marshy land, and not as well adapted to
general culture; there are also several
other varieties which mature late, lars.
or fruit than the Bell variety, but not as
productive. They can be propa-atesl
from the seed, or from cutting. or hv
transplanting. The last method is NOS
frequently adopted. The first crop OBJ
tanned by planting the seed will b. one
er two years later than that produced by
transplanting When cultivated, the
berries are large and abundant: after be-
ing gathered they turn from light scar
let to deep red and sometimes almo t
black. Thy viii keep a very long
tine if not gathered too ear they
shoIl0 remain on the vines until Il il
nee ssary to gather them from the frost
they should DC properly dried by spread
inc them thin for three or four weeks;
they can then be packed and sent to any
part of the world. II gathered too carly,
while some ofthe berries arc greer, they
will not keep.
The soil most suitable for their growth
is low, moist meadow land that is not
tno cold and spoagy. In that case, a
drain should be cut % let off surplus
water, whica should always &c within
twelve inches of the surface. and sand
covered over the top three or four inches
will be Of service, slthoagh not inIis-
pcnsablc where it is not easily procured.
When the ground is uneven, sand can
be cartcd on to level it. They also do
well on muck or any poor swampy land.
where nothing else Will grow; they grow
naturally on watery boys and Marshes
on the border of streams and d;tchcs,
and by draining wet land and then tax
ING off the top of the ground to remove
the wild grass or vegetable matter and
carry to the manure heap; then cart on
beach or other sand to the depth of two
or three inches to level the ground and
TO prevent grass and weeds from choking
the vines. ana to keep the ground loose
arounl the p!ant. They bear abun lant.
ly on marshes covered with coarse sand,
AMI entirely destitute Of organic matter
of any kial bat accessiblcto to moisture
on pure peat co,ercl with saad, and on
every variety of soil. except clay liable
to bake or become hard in dry weather,
on soil that can be worked with plow
and harrow; i. can be prepared as you
would do il for planting out garden and
other p'arts; sometimes it can be burnt
ovee SO as 10 retit in 4 condition to set
out pIants. They can also be raised on
moist loan where cora and potatoes will
grow, but not SO abundantly on dry or
sandy soil unless covered two or three
inches with muck or spent tan. No AM
NAL or vegetable manure should be used,
as the fruit draws mos. of lis moisture
from the atmosph re. The poorer the
sell thc less cultivation is needed.
lfyog have peat swamp and de,i IN
conver.ia- i into 4 cranberry yard. youl
first step to be taken is to ind level
that is not toa wet, and then clear off the
turf or grass >5d>, and bring the rest of
the swamp t. ta1 sama hight When
it is thus eloare,. an Iovc,e of, it is
not then ready for the reception of the
vine. Should the vine be planted, i,
will do well through the winter and
sprirg, but in the bo,test weather the
peat will bake and become hard; it will
therefore be impossible to take in the
moisture of the atmosphere. which is ao-
solutely required by the vine. The alb
sence Of this moisture will cause the
plant to die, and thus both labor and
money are lost This will be prevented
by leaving the prepared swamp exposed
to the action of the frost for one winter,
when it will, after it is thawed. crumble
and present light gravclly appearance.
the largest lump Of which will not exceed
an ordinary pebble. When the swamp