Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-01-16
farmtr's 9rpartmcnt.
Cultivation OF the Cranberry.

Our readers know that we have printed in
The 7eleqr0ph much in behalf Of the cultiya-
tion Of the Cranberry as Il crop, by our farm
srs in the belief that it would be found, when
its culture was understood to be as profitable
or a little more so, than the same ground
could be occupied with anything else Be-
side, it can be raised upon spots on the farm
almost or quite unfit for any other crop. At
any rate there is not farm Of fifty acres,
perhaps in the State, on which could not be
found n spot where the cranberry could be
cultivated successfully. At tie last Agri-
cultural Exhibition of the Bucks County
Society, we saw the finest cranberres that
ever met our eye, which the producer in
formed Us were from uplaad cuiticdtion.
The following article from the Granite
State Farmer, refers to lowland cultivation,
and contains many capital hints. worthy Of
tho attention Of our farmers, which We hope
it will receive ED. Germant0wl Telegraph.
take the liberty Of offering few sugges
tions upon the cultivation Of the cranberry
1t is passing strange that so much is said
and so much time and money spent upon the
cultivation of fruit in general, and so little
said md done upon the cultivation OF this
most delicious and beautiful berry. But few
appreciate the worth Of this little sour
thing" or We should see every farmer forth
WIN hShISublu5 Shbll IbhNh VI NO bIS 'ui III
to its growth. Some object to it because Of
its exceeding tartness, especially when sugar
is so high as at the preset time. But let US
take courage the sugar cane will yet be
riased by every farmer. and sugar will be
manufactured at cost far less than the
present price Of sweets. ! think the subject
Of raising cranbcrrics and Of the sugar cane,
will go hand in hand, or ought to, at least
II may not be generally known how cheap
ly cranberres can lie raised, and how long
they can be kept fresh aud nice, with but lit
tie waste. venture the assertion that they
may be raised at cost not above good Bald
win apples yet they bring three times as
much. They may be kept in q vessel Of
water, by changing it now and then, the year
round. They sholld be kept in q cool Gel
lar, and not allowed to freeze. But the
point to come at first is how to raise them,
and let the keeping Of them be Of secondary
importance Having had little experience
in the matter, ] venture TO write it out.
When the farm upon which | now live was
purchased By my father, there existed upon
it a shallow reservoir, containing about one
acre. 1t was full Of cells, pou,s, blood suck
ers, and frogs, and many spree did the boys
have "p0utng," from a large rock on ore
side, and near deep hole. subsequently
the water was allowed to run of, and it soon
give S!SuS Vi vegetation. ICNetJ nag anu
willows prcdomiuated In the fall of 1919
took the liberty Of trying an experiment on
the old frog pond. Many an incredulous
smile PLAYED over the faces of my neighbors
as they passcd by and behed Inc plungirg
about in the mud, tearing up willows and
pulling up sweet flag turf | was then young
aud they called i: one Of my notions / re.
member Of receiving encouragement only d
one man,-an Old gray headed farmer-h he
said to me, Go on it will be worth more
than railroad stock ~ did 90 on, and spent
some s. ) in work and fencinC eight years
ago this fall, aud fifty dollars would not bu!
the crop | have taken from the vines tins
year. Last year | had some eight or tel
Bushels ! sold them for s. poT bashel. On,
year ago last spring raked over four bush
els, and cot Si25 per bushel. Two year
ago this fall rukul three bushels. and sol
them for 80 per Putting the iucOm
OF the last three years together, tue amoGn
will not fall short Of 800.
Readers Of this article will ask perhap;
can't We so and DO likewise? You can, an
do even better, provided you begin right
"lIow is that?' You will ask Get rid of tn
grass On any wet sell, e,therb plowiug deeT
or taking OF The turf; set your vines, two Q
three roots in a hill. three feet apart eac
way. IT you can get it within half a mil,
cover lhe son Two or three inches deep wit
sand, leaving the vines sticking through an
above it, IT, you can aow it in winter, do 5,
and II it will lOw over in summer, durin
heavy rains, 50 much the better. Let u
stagnaut water be allowed to stand about III
vines. no sand eau be conveniently ha,
let them take their chance, and they will Sc
well and get the advantage Of the grasse
but not so readily as ii sand were pat o,
The variety should be considered, the lare
round berry being far the best | would NJ
take the other as gift.
The best method of getting the roots is
use common dung hook. Strike the no,
into the roots, pull out turf; little W.
from this take out another; thus YOU nj
get your vines, and benefit what you leave
thinning. The punches Of roots taken out
THIS way will make some eight or ten hi
each.
=, Somo are trying the experiment Of mowi
the vines, running them through hay.cutt
ana then sowing them as yon would gra
ana harrow or rake them in. 1t is assert
that each joint in the vine will produce a n
Vlne' l AIN inclined to thiuk this will do
very wet soil, but the other is the more C
tain method.-Iz BREED, Hare, N. H.
.