The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-11-14
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
The Cranberry.

Maine ought to be one of the first states to
engage largely in the raising of the cranberry.
1t has thousands of acres adapted naturally
to its cultivation, already bearing sponta-
neous crop. 1t is in the same latitude with
those districts in the West, so well known for
their enormous production of this fruit. 1t is
the nearest state 10 the foreign market, which
is just beginning to receive regular supplies
from our own country. For, although Sir
Joseph Banks more than fifty years ago cult
waited vines sent from the United States, and
raised at the rate of 500 bushels per acre, the
fruit was rarely seen on English tables until
recently introduced by the special efforts of
the New Jersey producers. We have good
reason to believe that this new export which
has been so favorably received, win be largely
increased each year, and thus prevent the
possibility of unremunerative prices at home.
An additional reason for its cultivation here
is, that not only large supply will be re-
quired for home consumption, but for the
multitude Of sailors who leave the state on
distant voyages, and whose vessels would
transport cargoes the world over.
Beside these special considerations, there
remain the general ones, which hold good ev-
erywhere-that cranberry cultivation is adapt
ed to waste and worthless spots which are
hardly valuable for anything else-and that
as it seldom or never receives the ordinary
fertilizers used in farm husbandry it subtracts
absolutely nothing from the needed home sup
ply. Cranberry boys rarely produce any other
vegetable growth, as they are too wet for
wood or timber; and where the vines are
well rooted, they soon overpower the poor ma
tive grasses, so that we regard the receipts
rom such source as direct gift from Ma
ture-almost clear gain; as much so as if we
found deposit of wild honey in some hollow
tree of the forest. This evolution from the
cold sour morass, of one of our choicest fruits
fit for the table of king and needful for the
health and comfort of every man, is one of
the marvels and mysteries of plant growth.
And then we are to consider the profits of
its successful cultivation-a little fortune from
a single acre-ranging all the way in notable
cases from five hundred TO one thousand
dollars, and giving fair results when return
ing only fifth of the above sums. In some
of the western States the owners of Dogs still
in state of nature are receiving thousands
of dollars annually for their cranberry crop,
so that such locations of government land
are worth more than those covered with the
heaviest growth of timber. Cases in New
England have been reported where unsghtly
and barren tracts have been transformed
into productive fields, thus giving profitable
employment to women and children at home,
and by yielding large crops enabling the own
10 educate their children and to enjoy the
comforts of life.
The cranberry is not only one of the best
of fruits but also one of the best of medicines.
Byits cooling acid juices the blood is clearsed
from humors and impurities, and remarkable
cures have been wrought by applications ex-
ternally, when disease has thus made itself
manifest. 1t is one of Natures remedies,
widely scattered, and in some form can be
preserved for use through the year. In ia
yored localities the ripe fruit may be some
times seen upon the vine in the spring when
time, or the previous midwinter, the dark
crimson berries seem to acknowledge an
added richness from the mellowing influences
of frost and snow. For food and medicine
both we regard the cranberry as superior to
the lemon; and while the latter is brought
from distant lands at great expense and is
comparatively a perishable fruit, the cram
berry may be kept long time, and as home
product it increases instead of diminishing
our revenues.
As cultivated crop, the cranberry may
be produced successfully where any other
crop grows; but; the best returns are OBJ
tanned, when it is raised in the swamps and
marshes where it is originally found The
vines will thrive when set out in grasses,
swamps or meadows, and will generally over
come the grass, provided it is cut so as not
to harm them. The most experienced grow
ers, however, prefer to remove the top layer
of earth before transplanting the vines, and
to apply dressing of sand. The vines may
be run through hay cutter, and then sowed
broadcast over the ground, or they may be
removed in small squares of turf, or set out
like other plants in hills or rows. 1t is essen
tial that wet lands should be ditched, so that
its drainage can be under control. Where a
cranberry bog can be flowed, so as to pre-
vent the ravages of the worm, and protect
the blossoms and the fruit from frost, an an
nual crop may be safely expected. When
the crop is ripe and the ground has been
hIxv bad thf. Al
on to advantage, as the berries may be easily
collected by its agency into suitable store
houses. Some cutivators state that they
would not engage in the business, if they
could not have stream of water at their con-
troll; others say that a location upon the shore
of some large body of water gives them all
the security they desire, and others still, ask
Tor nothing but convenient deposit of clear
sand as an essential requisite Tor successful
cultivation. Water, without doubt, is bene-
fit when it can be controlled and used as pre-
viously indicated; in excess it is injurious.
and should be removed. We advise our read
ers who have suitable opportunities, to try
experiments this fall, using small patches of
land for the different methods of preparing
the soil, and of setting out the plants. A
year or two's experience of this sort will
them without instruction to engage in larger
and no doubt more profitable undertakings.
Centennial Sponge Cake.
Two cups of sugar, two cups -four, four
teaspoonfuls baking powder, four eggs, one
cup boiling water. Mix the eggs, sugar, flour
and baking powder thoroughly together; add
the boiling water! stir nnicklu nut into mans