Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-02-26

queDtly would the peat be found six feet in
thickness. Captain Small has q successful
wholly 10 the sand which, however, conveys
the soluble humus Of the peat TO the roots of
the plants. There is always rankness of
root and vine growth when theiviDes are plant
cd directly In peat, and as the growth of
plants is continued longer under such condi-
tions they are longer in bearing their fruit.
The same remarks apply to plants which are
heavily manured, and constantly supplied
with an abundance Of water. have found
IN every case whore the runners have been
sanded TO tho depth Of about an inch and
properly watered, they readily take root in
the fresh sand and produce Roe growth Of
lateral branches. 1t has been found in some
cases that sanding the vines in this way has
as good au effect on their growth as an appli-
cation Of guano. Several small cranberry
plantations were pointed out to me which
had, at various times, been flooded with salt
water, not only on Cape Cod, but also in
New Jersey but there was no evidence to
show that salt scs.water, reduced in strength
by heavy rains, affected the growth Of the
vines for good or evil.
AT the Brcksburgh annual meeting of
the Cranberry Growers Association, | was
informed by gentlemen from Pemberton and
its vicinity that the plantations in their
neighborhood differ very much from all
had visited. Their soil is savanna aud is
very dry in most places, and previous to the
last three years their berries had not rotted
was further informed chat Mr.. Hinchmau's
plantation near Medtord presented condi
tons which apparently could be found on no
other, his vines being more copiously water
ed than any had yet seen, while his berries
we're exempt from the rot. At the earnest
request OF members Of the association | vs-
tied this plantation and those in the vicinity
Of Pemberton above referred to, as well as
that of Mr.. N. II. Bishop, near Manahaw-
kun, Ocean County, in order to obtain addi-
tonal facts in regard to the habits Of the
cranberry plant under new and exceptional
methods of culture.
found the plantations of Mr. Bishop,
which embrace about so acres, in very
high state Of cultivation. This gentleman
has probably expended larger amount per
acre, and devoted more attention to the
preparation Of his bogs, than any other cram
oerry grower in the United States. He is
regarded by all the New Jersey cranberry
growers as one of the most jealous, clear
headed, and successful of their number
Practically, rot Is unknown on his bogs. 10
company with Mr.. Bishop and others,
made thorough examination of his vines
and berries, and also Of the muck underly-
ing his cultivated ridges. The peat is about
live feet in thickness, is well decomposed,
aud quite homogeneous in texture The
bog was formerly whitecedar swamp. Mr..
Bishop is fortunate In having a fine supply
OF water. Cool and uninterrupted breezes
pass over his plantations, circumstance of
considerable Importance in connection with
cranberry culture. 1t was, doubtless, large
ly due to these favorable conditions that the
extreme heat and drought Of last August
and September produced no unfavorable ef-
feet upon his crops. examined the muck
or peat Of an adjacent bog, belonging to the
same gentleman, which had dried up during
the summer, but had not been drained or
drought under cultivation. A hole was dug
about three feet in depth to ascertain the
character Of the sub-soil. We found il as
free from odor as the cultivated bog.land,
and as well decomposed 1t was evident
that nearly all the muck Of this cedar swamp
had long since passed through its iermenting
condition. The cultivated land is perfectly
drained, and the bitches are filled with run
ming water. MIR. Bishop has put an uuus-
ually large amount of pure sand, not less
than 10 inches, over the muck of his bogs.
The roots of the vines consequently grow in
the sand, which, by capillary attraction. con.
veYs to them the soluble humus Of the peat.
The true character OF peat in relation to
cranberry growth is still a matter OF doubt
but one thing is evident, namely, that such
masses Of peat will always absorb and retain
large amount OF water, aud will thus tend
TO keep the sand on the top moist. Certain
y the humus Of the peat is not itself abb
sorbed by the roots Of plants, but humic acid
is seldom free from ammonia, and the oxida-
ton of peaty matter may also contribute to
root and plant growth by supplying them
with carbonic acid, which is Que of the es-
sentials of plant food.
The cranberry growers of New Jersey are
very much divided in opinion as to the
amount Of water that should flow in the
bitches Of their boys when the berries are
coloring under high atmospheric tempera-
ture. Some believe that excessive moisture
aud high temperature cause the berries to
rot, while others equally intelligent affirm
the opposite. Much of this uncertainty
arises from the limited quantity of water fur
nished at the fountain-head Of many of the
bogs under cultivation. A small stream will
quickly fill the bitches of l0-acre lot when
stops or gates are used but, during high
temperatures, the water becomes quickly
heated, and instead Of proving beneficial will
prove hurtfu to the vines, especially when
the sub.soil has not been well decomposed.
Under such conditions fermentation will be
promoted, producing organic acids and sui
phuretted hydrogen in the vicinity of the
roots, while much larger flow of water in
the bitches would cool the substratum of the
bogs, and remove, at the same time, all solu.
BILE noxious substancss.-Department Re
TOrt