The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1872-11-01

HINT TO OWNERS OF swAMPs.
The culture of the cranberry, now one of
the most valuable products of American
soil, is of recent date. In many. parts of
the United States it grows wild in the
greatest profusion, and was used extensive
ly by the aborigines for medical purposes,
and by the first settlers in the Ne, World
as an article of food. Until within the
past twenty years, however, no attention
has been given to its cultivation, which
has since proved so profitable to many
who have embarked in it. The land best
adapted to the growth of the cranberry
shrub, or vine, is that of a low, and some
what marshy nature, where there is a thick
deposit of decayed organic matter to fur
nish the essential essence. A heavy soil
will produce vines ofluxuriant growth, but
little or no fruit will repay the cultivator
for his pains. In n light sandy soil, how
ever, the plant will thrive and even in low
land may be improved for its growth by
having applied to it q coating of sand. 1t
is essential also to the health of the cram
berry plant that facilities should be provid-
ed for the prompt and perfect drainage of
the bog, which during the winter is SUBJ
merged in water and thereby protected from
the cold blasts and storms with which that
season is accompanied. The bugs, too, that
frequently injure the crops, are cxtermina-
ted by means of this flooding.
There are many different theories held by
cranberry growers in regard to its cultiva-
ton. Authorities upon the subject, how
ever, agree that the plants should be "set
OUT in regular rows, each being at dis
lance of 18 inches or thereabout from its
nearest neighbor. The time for planting
is during the months Of May, June or July,
and, if properly cared for, by the October
following each vine will have put forth a
creeper, which, in time, itself terminates q
number of shoots These shoots, in their
turn, will send forth numerous tendrils I'M
til the whole ground iscoYered with fret
ted carpet of vines, shoots, creepers and
tendrils. If the land has been well select
ed and inteligently and judiciously man
aged, more or less fruit will be produced
from the vines the second year. In the
third, from 10 to 10 per cent. may be real
lied from the investment, and each succeed
ing year the yield will he greater. At the
expiration Of the eighth year, when the
vine is supposed to have reached maturity,
berries enough may be gathered to pay the
proprietors from one hundred to two hun
dred per cent. upon the money expended
in laying out, planting and cultivating the
bog. Such, at least, has been the expert
ence Of extensive growers and cultivators.
The vines, having once attained their full
growth and bearing, require but little care
and attention, and it is believed that they
will produce to an indefinite period.
We are informed th0t vines in the imme-
diate vicinity of Camden county are known
to have borne fruit for more than century,
and yet are in no wise impaired by age,
nor has their productiveness in the least di-
minished. South Jersey speculiarly adap-
ted to the growth of the cranberry. The
soil is of that light sandy nature in which
the plant best thrives, and is well supplied
with the essential coating of decayed Or
ganic substance. The numerous streams ex-
tending like network through the south
ern portion of the State, afford excellent
means for draining the Dogs, and there is
every facility afforded for shipping the ber-
ries at once to New York and Philadelphia,
by the numerous railroads with which this
section is provided. At present there are
many acres of land under this species OF
cultivation. The largest tracts are located
in the counties of Ocean, Atlantic and Bur-
lington. In Cape May, Camden, Cumber.
land and Salem counties there are also ex-
tensive boys, and more are being constant
ly laid out at a cost varying, on account OF
location and other circumstances, from 500
to $500 per acre.
The crop of cranberries for the present
season will, in all probability, be smaller
than usual, owing to the heated weather
which SCORED" many of the berries. 1t
does not necessarily follow, however, that
the yield will be much less profitable to the
growers, for cranberries, like peaches, pos
sess q greater value when scarce than when
the market is fully supplied. The berries,
which during good season are sold for 81
or $5 per barrel, will bring easily IS per
barrel when the yield has been small. The
fears entertained by some that the cranber-
ry business, in which so many individual
and incorporated companies are now en-
barking, will be "over-done" are ground
less. The market has never yet been over
! stocked Camden (M J) Press.