Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-05-14
Cranberry Culture.


On Saturday, Nov. 21st, (1s63) the writ.
er improved his opportunity to visit DR.. Il.
ID. Millers cranberry swamp in franklin,
about % miles from Boston, on the Norfolk
Co. railway. Something like ten years since,
as informed by Jeremiah Desmond, the man
who lives on DR.. Miller's place 10 Franklin,
this swamp was covered over with growth
OF alders, dogwoOd, white naples, aud other
swamp shrubs which covered the ground !;
they were cleared of, and ditch cut through
the swamp for the brook, which before ran
through very crooked channel. bitches
were then opened from the uplands on each
side, which are gratelly and sandy, leading
into the main ditch. A dam was built across
the swamp which serves the purpose Of flow.
ing it and also that Of a road to pass across
it. In the winter the swamp was flowed,
and gravel, this being better than sand, was
drawn on 10 the ioe and spread. Afterwards
itWaePlanted to cranberry cuttings in drills
about lS inches apart, this, from experience,
having proved the most suitable distance
apart. How many coverings of gravel have
been put on was not learned but several,
judging from the excavations whence remov-
ed.
About II or IA acres of this swamp have
been planted; and so favorably is it situat-
ed that it can be covered with water in lit.
tie more than an hours's time. The brook
is Of such ca pacity, with the aid Of reser-
voir above the cultivated ground, that the
plants can be protected from frost at any
season when there is danger. When there
is fear Of frost, Mr.. Desmond is on the look
out during the night, and when the ther.
mometer indicates frost, the swamp is food
ed. This was done several times during the
past season, ITO wit of 1863. .
The crop of the past season THAT of 1863
was about 100 barrels Of very nice fruit
and Of remarkable size. We brought away
a couple Of berries that measured nearly
three inches in circumference. The crop
was all picked by hand at cost Of nearly
$4,000. AT one time, said Mr. Desmond,
200 persons might have been seen in that
swamp picking cranberries. 1t was lively
scene. After they were gathered they were
taken to the house where they were sorted,
that is to say, the soft berries after winnow-
ing them, were culled out by women and
girls, preparatory to barreling. Some half
dozen or more were engaged at this work
on the day we visited DR.. Miller's plantation,
and a merrier company of operatives we
have seldom seen, though it was a very rainy
day. About $50 barrels of the fruit was
then in the chamber and garret to be picked
over and barrelled.
When DR.. Miller first contemplated the
cranberry culture of this swamp he visited
the Hon. Joseph Breck, the well-known
scotsman Of North Market street, Boston,
(since deceased), aud asked him how to 90 to
work. Mr.. Breck said he could not tell him !;
then he asked him for the best work on Gran.
berry culture. Mr.. b. told him he did not
know Of any he could recommend; then said
Dr. Miller: Can you tell me of a man can
employ that knows something about it aud
Mr.. Brock said he could not.
Well, replied DR.. NJ, then will try and
see what can do. The result and the mode
Of doing it is briefly stated above, as learned
from DR.. Miller and Mr.. Desmond, his farm.
er. If any body has done better let him
communicate to our readers.
DIR. Miller has informed us since visiting
this cranberry swamp, that the fruit general
ly sold, so far as marketed, at the current
price, though some Of it was sold for SIS a
barrel. Call the average price $40 barrel
and 100 barrels will bring the snug little
sum Of Sll, 900. This beats tobacco rails.
ing out of sight.
One Of the peculiar advantages possessed
by DR.. Miller over most owners OF swamp
lands suitable for cranberry culture is the
facility with which he can flow it at all sea-
sons of the year, thus guarding the growing
crop from both late spring frOsts aud early
autumn frosts and, besides. gives him the
power to destroy insects that sometimes in
fest the vines. Swamp lands that can be a:
quickly flowed and as quickly drained as
DR.. Miller's cannot be used more pro6tably
than by growing cranberries, as it would
seem by the Doctors experience. 1t is alsC
easily gravelled in the winter by flowing it
after the water is frozen. From a little ovel
half an acre of the best of it, rs barreli
were gathered, said Mr.. Desmond, to whom
the writer was indebted for his information
and many attentions during his visit Il
Franklin, DR.. Miller being absent. Boston
CuItieator.