The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-03-12
lowAzPLAN DEALER r
Cultivation or Cranberries.

lOWAzPLAN DEALER.
Cultivation or Cranberries.
The highest prices which con-
tinue to be paid for the cranberry,
will induce many to engage in its
cultivation. The following remarks
furnished by a correspondent Of the
N. f. Farmer, appear so judicious,
that We transfer them to our columns
for the benefit CT any whom may
Hish directions. ~ EH AE f
TO the Individual who desires to
engage in the cultivation Of this
fruit, the first and most important
question to settle is the character
Of the soil and the nature Of the
surroundings necessary to secure a
good crop. To those WHO have
given the subject but little atten-
ton, a tract Of land which is filed
with water throughout the season
is considered one Of the most favor
able locations. But this / believe
to be mistake. From observation,
Tam convinced that the coils dur
ing the months Of June, July, Au-
gust and September, should be
thoroughly drained from twelve to
eighteen inches below the surface.
except at such times as it may be
necessary to Aow it for few hours
to Eillthe worms or protect the
vines and fruit from frost.
The most favorable location l be-
lieve to be where the soil is peat
from one to several feet in depth,
and where the surroundings are
such that during the summer months
the water can be thoroughly drain
ed off at least one foot below the
surface. and at the same time such
that the water can be let on in a
few hours in sufficient quantity
at any season Of the year to cover
the surface from four to six inches
in depth and also in the vicinity
of sand hill. He who has loca-
ton like this, but a few acres,
possesses a very valuable piece Of
property. and any individual with
ordinary capacity for business may
in few years obtain from it an in
come sufficient to place him in
comfortab bic circumstances.
In preparing the soil, the surface
should be removed to the peat !; it
should then be covered with at least
three inches of sand, or when this
cannot DO readily obtained, I have
found fine gravel to answer a very
good purpose. Y 1grEug WTE-
In selecting plants, care should
be taken to use only such as are
known to produce good crops. l
have found that while some varie-
ties produce four bushels to a rod,
others on the sam soil and with the
same care, produce only one bushel.
The month Of May is undoubtedly
the best time to transplant the
vines. The water at the time
should be nearly even with the
surface and kept so for week or
ten days, and then gradually drawn
of. The vines should be set singly,
about six inches each way. The
first season great care should be
taken to keep out ali grass and
weeds-after that, if the location
be good one, and the plants
properly set, but little labor will
be required to keep down the grass;
if possible, thsy should, during The
winter, be kept covered with at
least two feet Of water. nor should
they be left entirely out Of water
until all danger Of frost in the
spring is over for, what is very
singular, while the blossom buds
are able to withstand our coolest
winters u very slight frost the last
Of May will kill them and entirely
ruin the crop. This is fact not
SO generally known as it should be.
When the worms make their ap-
pcarance, the flowing Of the land
for . few hours is sufficient to de.
stroy them. If during the month
of September there should be any
days which promise to be followed
by frost, the water should be let on
and the fruit thus protected. But
tho length Of this article will not
permit me to enlarge. 81