Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-03-05

also TOT. In the absence OF moisture, the
roots fail to sustain the organic functions of
the berry, aud II becomes subject to the
came kind Of decay and rot that are observed
when healthy berry Is removed from a
healthy vine and subjected to high heat Of
the sun. This fact is we'll understood by
cranberry growers. The soil which accu-
mulates in old mill-ponds differs from the
foregoing. 1t is composed mostly of decom.
posed leaves, moss, and similar substances,
being well decomposed vegetable sediment,
most Of which had probably fermented in
the forest before it was washed by rains in-
TO the ponds. BY draining tho water from
these ponds gradually, the sediment cpDsoli-
dates into the condition Of humus matter.
Sometimes large trees in q state oil fermenta-
ton are found in the bottom Of mill.ponds,
and bad soil and rotting berries have always
been found in their immediate neighborhood.
Pure sand, in some cases, has been used
successfully in cranberry culture when irri-
gated with cool aud running peaty water;
aud so also clayey sand, but with Indifferent
success. In one case found condition OF
soil differing from all these. 1t consisted Of
"black sand" or savanna" as it is some.
times called, aud had on its surface about
three inches Of a heavy, undecomposed, fer
menting peat, which had been spread over
it by artificial means. Lastly, cranberry
land sometimes consists Of thin layer Of
well decomposed peat, six TO eight inches in
depth, but rendered useless by being charg-
ed with back water from adjacent ferment-
ing bog.land
In the use OF lime, under such conditions,
science and common sense must be exercised.
ln the first place, bog consisting Of six feet
Of fermentiug muck, with a poor supply Of
pure running water, cannot be easily brought
into the condition Of pure humus matter by
the use Of forty bushels of lime to the acre.
This amount will prove beneficial, and if the
following season should have favorable eli
matte conditions, and additional applications
should be made, more satisfactory results
may be expected from its use than would
occur without it but if long drought and
high temperature should follow, the value of
the lime wonld not be appreciable; and yet
the same amount applied to thin layer Of
fermenting peat, with a proper supply Of
water, would give marked and valuable re.
suits. The application Of lime to we'll de-
composed peaty matter or humus
will not cause fermentation, bat
simply oxidation, producing a class of or
gauic acids highly beneficial to plant-growth;
being always combined with more or less
ammonia. The application of caustic OF
carbonate Of lime, especially the former to
savanna land, may be generally considered
as injurious TO it in the absence Of liberal
supply of water charged with soluble humu.
matter; because the lime, whether caustic
or otherwise, will soon destroy by oxidation
the small percentage of vegetable matter
contained in it.
1t is acknowledged that the savanna lands
have great tendency to be impoverished
quickly under cultivation. l would recon-
mend the adoption of the following mode o.
amelioratiDg such land Take any quanti
ty Of heavy peat.mucl, and make a compost
of 1t with quick-lime, turning it over fire.
quently, and allowing the full action Of thu
atmosphere on it. Frost will tend to pull
verize it, while high temperature will favor
fermentation, destroying its albuminoids
The lime will neutralize its fannie acid, and
allow the proteine compounds preserved by
it to pass through the stages of decomposl'
ton, converting the vegetable mass into hui
mus matter. Any excess Of lime will COM
bine with the acetic aud other organic acids
present, neutralizing them. The whole mass
when dry, should be pounded or reduced by
a rolling-machine TO the form Of powder
and spread over the surface Of the savanG
lands.
|
There is much evidence to show that the
roots Of the cranberry-vine succeed bes
when planted in loose, porous soil. Will,
travelling over the highly-cultvated planta
tion Of Joseph @. Hinchman, he pointed on
a number of barren spots and strips of land
which in former years had proved as vel
adapted TO the growth Of the vine as any
other part OF his land. Mr.. Hinchman stat
ed that persons who were employed in pick
ing the berries would frequently draw heav.
boxes over the vines, and in this way com
pact the sand or soil around the roots. Ii
other cases they would form in groups, AM
sit on the cranberry vines when taking thei
meals. Ia all such places the vines cease,
to grow thriftily. Col d. GoWdy also re
marked that he could not account for tn
comparative barrenness Of the land on tn
edges Of his artificial water-courses. HI
said that formerly the vines grew in profus
ion on them, yielding fine crops of berries
On comparing the edges of the water-courses
artificial and natural, of Mr.. Hinchman wit
those of Mr.. Gowdy, marked contrast aP
peared. On Mr.. Hinchman's plantation tn
prolusion of vines and fruit growing on tn
margins of the stream was quite remarkable
On the banks OF his principal stream tn
runners often extended from one TO TIVE
yards in length, and were frequently see
floating on the surface Of the stream, an
bearing an abundance Of ruby-colored fruit
When we take into consideration the fac
that hundreds Of persons pass over all tn
cranberry lands during the picking.season,
need not be surprising should n diminutio
of the cranberry-crop occur from this Gauss
While making an examination Of the Gran
berry plantation Of Joseph j. White, nea
Pemberton, n. j. | failed to detect tn
odor of sulphuretted hydrogen 10 the cultivat
} ed soil, but under the trodden paths foun
J it in abundance. In this fact we have {
once proof Of the value Of a porous sol
which will not only allow its deleteriou
gases to escape into the atmosphere, but vii
also permit the atmospheric air to penetraI
freely to the roots of the growing vines.
In company with a committee, visite
the cranberry. plantations Of John Webb,
Jackson Township, Ocean County, who wa
doubtless the first cultivator Of cranberriC
in New Jersey. Mr.. Webb commenced b
experiments about the year 1S43, althOug
having no practical knowledge on the sui
ject, but relying wholly on such informatic
as he gained from newspapers coming occas
iOnally into his hands. Living as he did
: an isolated place, a few miles from Cas-
: vile, with no capital, he was embarrasse
: with many difficulties still he persevere
: with his rude experiments, studying, as
were, insLinctively the habits OF the eranbel