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

county, new Jersey, and made careful eX-
animation Of the condition Of the soil, the
mode Of cultivation, the roots Of the vines,
their foliage and fruit, the construction Of
water-dams, bitches, &C., at that place.
The plantations OF the company comprise
about l90 acres Of vines, the greater part Of
which were set out in the year 1869. In
1871 there was light crop, partly rotted !;
10 1870 half crop, and nearly all rotted !;
in 1873 a full crop, and nearly all rotted,
ouly 300 bushels oil sound fruit being picked
out Of total crop estimated at 10 900 BUSH
els. No fertilizers were used till the spring
Of 1873, when sand and plaster were ap.
piled to the higher portions Of the land, u
small area being at the same time treated
with u coating Of decomposed turf. No rain
fell after these fertilizers were applied until
june IL, when rot began. The seasons of
1871 and 1873 were noted at this particu-
lar locality for prOtracted drOughts during
JuQe and July. ..s. -...s'
In the fall of 1873, sixty acres were
drained, by cutting bitches about two rods
apart, and a coating of sand was spread over
the vines. The outlets aud feeding bitches
we're opened to give free circulation of water
as we'll as thorough drainage.
Where foliage was destroyed last year by
the viue-worm, there was very little fruit ;
where plaster was applied, with layer Of
sand over 1t, the vines looked healthy and
had new rootlets.
Several other plantations in the same vi
cinity were examined, including those Of Mr.
Miller aud MIR. lockwood l visited
Bricksburgh, Ocean County, July "a, and
made an examination of several cranberry
plantations in this neighborhood, commenc.
ing with that of DIR. Merriman, two miles
southwest of the village. We found the
berries very thickly set on the vines where
the blossoms had not oil disappeared, bat
traces of the rot were discernible on this
plantation. l made careful examination
vines, and the degree Of acidity of the fruit
from the different portions OF the bog
Where guano had been applied marked
Improvement Of the foliage and roots was
visible. ln answer to an inq uiry made BY
me whether any Of the growers present had
given attention to the condition Of the soil
and of the roots of the vines, unanimous
answer was given in the negative. On ,hv
afternoon Of this day our company was in.
creased by the arrival Of Colonel Goodrich,
OF Stockbridge, Mass, aud the Rev. A. ii
Dashiel, Of Bricksburgb, both of whom are
interested in cranberry culture. We visited
the plantations of Mr.. j. W. Campbell, the
Rev. Isaac Todd, and Mr.. Ferre. all being
connected and forming one continuous plain
This extensive bog was formerly a mill-pond
The soil Of such places is generally found to
be very favorable for cranberry cultivation
which proved to be the case in this instance
These three plantations have never failed to
produce healthy crops. An examination OF
the soil proved that the peaty matter OF
which it principally consists waswell decom-
posed. Our attention was directed to one
small portion Of the pond where about two
years ago the berries rotted. examined
this place, by digging up the ground, and
found Sat the soil was not well decomposed,
and shat tho muck was in condition Of ac-
tive fermentation, giving off strong odors OF
sulphuretted hydrogen. The roots of the
vines here we're unusually large, matted, and
Of a dark, unhealthy color.
We next visited the plantation of Messrs.
G. G. and L, w. Crane, at Long Swamp,
consisting Of about thirty acres. This plan.
tation had been recently laid out, aud was
provided with the latest improvements. The
ground here proved generally good, although
in some places there we're decided indications
Of sour, fermenting soil. The barron plan
tations were next examined The soil here
is Of n mixed character, some portions of it
proving to be well decompesed and without
odor, while other portions were in state Of
fermentation. 1t was observed that the rot
was confined to the parts indicating ierment-
ing soil, while the sound berries grew on the
well.decompOsed soil, which has generally a
pleasant odor.
We next visited Butterfly Bridge planta.
tien. Here, plantation, laid out some
years ago by f. NJ. Todd, Esq, in the best
manner, aud now belonging to different par.
ties, was next visited The vines on this
plantation rotted in spots last season. An
examination Of these spots showed undecom-
posed peat, and unhealthy roots, the latter
beng very large and closely matted. Hav.
ing stated to the committee of cranberry.
growers accompanying me that fermenting
soil and stagnating water were probably the
principal causes Of the rot, | was informed
that, although my theory held good thus far.
there was neglected cranberry plantation,
known as the Carey Bog, near Bricksburgh.
the water Of which they believed to be stag
nant, as it had no visible outlet, but potwith-
standing, the fruit of the bog had not been
affected by the disease. An examination of
the bog showed that the water which flooded
it was perfectly fresh, being supplied proba.
bly, by means Of springs, and passed of
through the sand. The whole surface was
covered with dense growth of moss aud
weeds, interspersed with cranberry plants.
The cranberry roots we're growing in the
moss and confined to it,, They were short,
of whitish color, and very healthy sand
to the depth Of eight inches had at one time
been spread over the peat muck. l cut
through it, aud found it to be very pure and
free from any Odor. This bog very much re-
sembles wild bog, being wholly neglected.
have also examined the roots Of the cram
berry plants as found growing in the wild
state, aud in all cases have found them to be
healthy and similar to these. have thas
far failed to discover any healthy cranberry
vines growing In stagnant water.
Much diversity Of opinion exists on Cape
Cod, as well as in New Jersey, as to the
best kind of peaty bottoms to be used for
cranberries. l have found successful culti-
walton Of this crop on cedar aud maple bot.
toms, the waters Of which were charged with
bicarbonate Of iron in solution. Not unfre-
plot, consisting Of coarse, sharp sand, deeply
colored with iron. The bed Of sand is lS
inches in thickness, and rests on "hard pan, "
solid bed Of bog iron. Such iron basins
are formed from the precipitation of iron
held in solution in the water which flows ov-
er the bog land Captain Small informed
me that, on some parts Of Cape Cod beach,
cranberres grow successfully on pure sand
when provided with an adequate aud con-
stant supply ofpeaty water. Much stress is
placed on the quality of sand by all cram