The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-22
Culture of Small Fruits.
CIkNBERRIES,


This extremely valuable fruit, the de-
mand for which is far above the supply,
very few farmers in Virginia know much
about,-indeed, the most they know about
it is that they pay for it more than they
like to do; and certainly more than any
farmer should pay for an article he should
sell. There is a common impression-ln-
deed an almost universal one--that this
fruit must be grown on low, marshy land,
or at least on land which can be irrigated.
This error has doubtless prevented thou
sands from producing the fruit by which
thousands of large fortunes have been lost;
for there is nothing in the whole list Of
products made by farmers and gardeners,
SO remunerative in this country as the
Cranberry is at present. Any ground
that will make good crop of corn, will
make good one of Cranberries. So far
as their being dependent on low land and
irrigation, it is the experience of many
that rich, sandy loan, in an elevated po-
sition, is better for it.
There are some varieties, which have
been cultivated in English gardens for
more than iiuo centuries, which are indi-
genous in this country. The Cape Cod
this is themost popular that can be bought
now, from several reasons, but we will
state one, which makes it almost speci-
atty, viz. B. M. Watson, Of the Old
Colony Nurseries, Massachusetts,, who fur
nishes plants at ST. per hundred, or SIS
per thousand, packed and sent, without
any injury, to any part of this country.
After proper preparation of the ground,
which is to make it as deep, rich and plia-
bic as can be, it should be laid off in rows
three feet apart, so that the plants may be
worked with horsepower, and with what
is called in this country the bull-tongue
pillow.
The rows should be doubled, that is, two
rows should be made four or five inches
apart, and between these double rows is
the space referred to for the horse and
pillow. When the plants are set out they
should be put about six inches apart in the
row, and when that row is set, the one by
its side, which we said should be four or
five inches from the first. The plants
should not be set opposite to those in the
first row but midway between them. To
make this idea plain, we will state every
three plants in the double rows will form
nearly triangle. or letter V from one
side, or the letter A from the other. These
plants should be set out in this latitude
any time during March or April of course
as the latitude changes, there must be a
corresponding change Tor the time of set
ting out. They may also be planted-and
some persons prefer tin October or No
vember Apart from the extraordinary
profits which every one will find in this
fruit, who tries its culture, it maks beau
tiful and serviceable hedge.
1t is an evergreen, and in addition to
this, the contrast which is afforded between
the bloom and the green leaves, at one
season, and the beautiful fruit and leaves
at another, the plant is well worth buying,
for its ornamental characteristics. This
fruit is worth from 81 to Sc per bushel !;
and with very little more, if any expense,
than fifteen bushels Of wheat would cost
to produce it, two hundred bushels of
cranberries can be made. We estimate
the wheat at thirty bushels per acre, and
the cranberries at four hundred bushels !;
but gentlemen who attest all we have said,
60 much farther, and say even eight hun
dred bushels of this fruit can be made per
acre.
Assuming all this to be true, the demand
for the fruit is unreasonably beyond the
supply; and if it should be produced in
quantities five times as great as those at
present, it will still be more remunerative
than any other product of the farm.
Then we urge our readers to put out,
promptly, at least one or two acres of
the Cranberry. Make a hedge of it be-
tween your yard and garden or put it
where a permanent fence is required, and
you will never regret it. Any information
which may be desired on this subject, will
be promptly, aud with pleasure, sent from
this Office.
d. .ti