Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-02-05

\ SUCCESSFUL EXPERIgEST ~ CRANBERRY cUL-
TURE.
To the Editor Of the Free Press and Times;
AN inclined to conclude that very few
of YOUR readers, as they regale themselves
on the rich and juicy relishes of the season
IN the various form of which the cranberry
is 50 easily susceptible, have come to realizo
how readily each one for himself might
produce an abundance of this toothsome
iruit,if only in possession ola bit Of swamp.
such as is found 5n almost every extensive
farm.
Their presence IN our markets, to-day, at
20 moderate cost, Is 10 doubt in very large
measure owing to the peculiarly favorable
conditions of the last two seasons in Yer
mont. especially the great rainfall of 1873,
which gave the requisite supply of mois-
ture for the growth of the vines.
Facts gained from the experience of these
late years, added to 4 series of experiments
conducted by a gentleman Of our acquaint-
ance. VI. II. Hos!ord, Esq, of Charlotte.
lead to the conviction that by only ordinary
care and prscautiOn. the advisable and neees-
sary conditions may with good degree of
certainty be obtained.
Some eight or ten years since Mr.. Ii.
commenced in small way on wha. was
once a. bearer pond, now filed by an ac-
cumulation OF dead vegetable matter, from
six to thirty or forty feet in depth, accord
ins TO the original hollow Of the basin,
where, "a far back as the memory of man
reaeheth. the cranberry fourished sponta-
neously but by thorough process of drain
ing it was eventually entirely eradicated.
Having secured facilities for draining at
pleasure, Mr.. IL. next brought plants from
Il similar spot near Shelburn pond. where
the berry was also in tigenous, though at
this writing they have, also. entirely died
out. Fortunately succeeding in the at
tempt. he obtained fine growth of stalks
ON an area of two acres, and from very
small and meagrs beginning, encounter
ing. drought and frost alternately. and
aided only by some hints gathered from the
experience of the Cape Cod cultivators
added to his own tact and energy, after
repeated failures he has on one or two former
occasions gathered thirty or forty bushels
of scattered and limited fruitage; but not
until the season last past did he reap any
advantages commensurate to his expecta
tions and expenses.
As the result of the pickings of the past
season, Mr.. Ii. placed in the market about
$50 bushels OF very superior berry, equal
in all respects tO the best samples Of I'M
ported fruit. The cost of harvesting did
not exceed about 50 cents per bushel, the
labor being mostly done by women and
children, many Of whom received share
of the fruit gathered in payment for their
labor reducing by SO much the actual meas
urement. The common price this year was
"a per bushel.
As before suggested, the principal diff
Guilty is found in the too frequent occurrence
of unrimely trosts, both spring and fall, to
which should be added the ravages of YER.
min, both in the shape of small parasite.
hardly visible to the naked eye, found on
the leaf during most of the season, known
as the - fire worm,'' and green worm
which attacks the berry before it is half
grown and continues to prey upon i. dur
ing the entire season Of its growth. To
obviate these difficulties all that is required
is to raise the water by shutting up the
sluces in the dam, for few hours once in
four or FIVE weeks, to destroy the vermin.
and whenever a severe frost isapprehended.
An ordinary white frost is generally harm
loss. By shrewd device Mr. II. succeeded
in guarding against tho influence Of the
first hard frost Of last season, by setting on
fire some heaps of coarse grass which grew
on the borders OF the swamp, and was cut
and heaped up at suitable distances on all
sides Of the field so as to catch the varying
currents Of wind and cast a cloud Of smoke
over the entire surface of the enclosure.
On this occasion the frost was ientirely pre-
vented by the process from reaching the
though very severe on all ad-
joining fields. The drainage should be 50
as to secure the presence oi
moisture during the entire season at not
less than eight inches below the surface
1t is to be hoped that others may be led
to attempt the culture of the fruit as sir-
II. has . very abundant stock OF plants to
spa .. though this is believed to be the
oaly sucesMfal experiment north Of Caps
God. Yours, &C.. R. D. Il
January, a6, 1875. q