The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-01-14
Cranberry Culture,

as cranberry planJation is permanent
investment, giving annual returns for. life
time, it is important that every precaution
should be taken to make it as perfect as pos.
sible. The best soil for it is an equal mix
ture of coarse sand and muck. AS it is sell
dem soil of this composition can be found
In state of nature, the best way to form it
artificialiy is by covering well.decomposed
muck with layer of sand. In few years
the two become thoroughly incorporated,
making soil resembling black sand. The
profitable sites for cranberry culture are the
following: Heath ponds, or low basins,
places naturally flooded with water in winter
swamp lands in which deep deposits of muck
are found; when properly prepared these
make valuable and lasting plantations; sa-
vannas of ground lying between sWamps and
uplands; mill ponds made available by simp-
ly drawing off the water. Although there
are many instances of successful cranberry
culture on allvuial uplands, still such local
tiles are invariably less desirable and profit
able than the low, damp sites just enumerat-
ed.
An abundance of water Is necessary to the
highest success in this branch of industry,
not only to supply moisture to the plants,
but also to cover them in winter, thereby af-
fording protection from severe cold, prevent
the spring frosts from iDjuring the flowers,
and to destroy the cranberry worm, fire.
quent assailant of both plants and fruit.
The moisture should be at all times near the
surface, but stagnant water is fatal to the
growth of the plant, and the site of plan
tation should, therefore, be such as can be
drained at least one foot below the surface.
Another important material used in the prep
aration of cranberry beds is Sandwich is
spread over the surface of the ground. This
sand must be pure, free from any admixture
OF clay or loan, and the best test of a suitable
kind is this: Take portion of the soil and
compress it tightly in the hand if it is suit
able it will fall apart on being released, but If
1t adheres together after the pressure has
been removed, reject it at once. To save
labor and expense, therefore, it is very desir-
able that an abundance of suitable quality
of sand should be close to the site of cram
berry plantation.
Having selected location combining
water, sand and muck, the next step is to
prepare the ground for planting the vines.
The method of doing this varies slightly for
the several locations mentioned, but there is
space here only for a general account of the
process, having special referance to the site
described by our correspondents letter.
Usually, the first step is that of digging a
broad, deep ditch around the plot, for the
purpose of draining off the surface water, so
that the ground may be cleaned. II the eY-
cavated soil be sufficiently compact, It NAV
form the embellishments, otherwise different
soil must be added. When the water has
been removed, then clear off the trees, logs.
bushes. and other encumbrances. These
may be burnt on the ground and the ashes
scattered over the surface. When the soil is
dry, considerable depth of the turf is also
sometimes burned, so that the remainder can
be much more easily handled. If the deposit
is deep enough so that a portion of it can be
spared, 1t should be carted off for manuring
the adjacent upland.. The turf and surface
roots are, otherwise, separated from the soil
beneath, and taken away-a process called
"turfing" or "scalping."
When the soil has been leveled and other
wise prepared, it should be covered with pure
sand to the depth of from two to eight inches,
the depth being regulated by the compact or
loose nature OF the soil. II the muck bed is
underlaid with sand and the soil is not too
deep, pits may be dug at intervals. and the
clean, white sand from beneath thrown nm.
Or subsoil plough used for the same pur.
pose. 1t is important that the layer of sand
should be of uniform depth, and accordingly
care should be taken to make the surface
level before its application. The plot should
be surrounded with an embankment four feet
high, and bitches enough should be dug to
drain all parts of the meadow, at least one
foot below the surface.
The usual time for planting cranberries is
the spring, from the first of April to the first
of June; although the vine is so exceedingly
hardy that it will bear transpanting con-
sideraby later on in the summer. 1t is of first
Importance that the plants should be obtain
ed from fruitful beds, as well as those that
produce the largest and best fruit. They
should be set In rows, from eighteen inches
to,say four feet apart, according to the quaint
ity and quality of the plants obtained the OBJ
ject being to cover the ground with the vines
as soon as possible. There are several meth.
DDS OF planting, such as sod planting, hill
planting, drill planting, planting by pressure,
and sowing cuttings, for details OF which our
space is limited.
But little labor is required in the cultiva-
ton of the beds, the main object being to
keep down the weeds and grasses, and keep
the meadows thoroughly drained. When the
plants have beome matted over the whole
surface, very little cultivation will be after
wards REQUIRED,