Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-10-14
3arn' arO tonssboln.
Ae Cranberry.

so large returns with so small an outlay, as
the cranberry, providing the location and
conditions are right. These are, first, in
the vicinity of good sand-hill, second. a
meadow with peat bottom; third. per-
feet control of the water. with sufficient
quantities To flow the land al any season Of
the year Land with these conditions.
when once properly set with good cranber-
~ vines will produce large crops many
wears. with but little expense. except har-
,esting
To prepare the land for crop Of orar-
berries the sod should be removed from
four to six inches in depth. A. this makes
an excellent material when well dried, TO
use As an absorbent,if it is not too far away,
it will repay the expense Of removal. If
the distance from home is too great. and
high land is owned near the meadow, it
would be good economy TO compos, it with
lime and ashes. to be applied TO such crops
as could be grown and carted home to ad-
vantage. September and October are good
months to remove the sod, as the weather
is growing cooler and the water j. usually
lower at this season. The work can he
done better than in ho; ~essher,or when the
water is low than any other time.
In removing the top. care should be taken
To leave the surface A. level a. possible. SO
that when the water is let on. all por-
tons Of the meadow will be covered the
same depth. This is important, for if the
water Is let on in the summer To Kill the
curculio, it is desirable to have the vines
covered with the same depth Of water and
if the wasr Is let on in the spring or su-
tumn, TO prevent frost unless the land j.
level. some places will be covered too deep
while Others NAV not be covered at all 4; and
If not level II viii require more water and
longer time TO let II on and draw it of. A
little extra time spent in making the land
water level is time spent TO good advan-
tage.
The sand can be best applied in the win
ter when the meadow is frozen and the
farmer Is not SO busy. The top of the soil
should never be allowed TO mix with the
sand. but care should be taken not to apply
any but the sand that is below the grass
and weed seeds. By using this precauiion.
much time will be saved in the vines, the
first and second year after set The sand
should be applied from three to four inches
in depth
Those who intend to set vines in the
spring should lose no time in looking
around to select the best varieties; this
can never be done so well at an, other time
as il can when the fruit is on the vines
then no; only the quality of the fruit, but
the bearing qualities Of the vines can be
readily seen The latter is very important
for there are some varieties of good fruit,
that are shy bearers. producing rarely more
than half peck Of fruit TO the rod, while
other varieties frequ}ly produce from
three to four bushels.
The quality Of the fruit is TO be Judged
by the size and color of the berry and the
thickness Of the flesh. The larger the Der
~ the easier it can be gathered, and the
higher price II would command. Although
some Of the light oolored varieties possess
good keeping qualities, and are really Of a
superior favor. for market these are not de-
sirable, because the buyers are prejudiced
in favor Of a dark eolored berry. The flesh
of good cranberry is white and thick,
leaving but very small cavities for the seeds
the Skin thin and the seeds small A thin
feshed berry has large ;avities. thick skin
and large seeds; and Its keeping qualitie.
are very much poorer than the thick feshed
varieties; this is often overlooked.
The mistake thu, is usually made in set
ting vines is TO set them in regular row,
several feet apart. This at first thought
may seem best; but experience teache,
it to be wrong. The inexperienced ma,
think that it renders cultivation easier; but
il very much increases the labor. II the
vines be set all over the ground. leaving nc
space more than six inches square, the la.
Dor of wedding the first wear nsy not b.
less but If the vines do well. the labor III.
second year is very light, compared {,
what must be done to those set in rows;
for the ground gets so well covered witt
vines that they choke out the weeds ant
grass, while those set in rows do no
cover the ground all over for several years
thus giving the weeds chance to grow, un
less kept out by hand pulling. The hoe
cannot be used, on account of interferin,
with the running vines. Another disadv an
tage Of setting in rows is that SO mucl
ground is exposed to the sun that it fire.
quently heats so hot that the ends of tn,
growing vines are killed; but when tn,
vines are scattered al over the ground, i
keeps it cooler, and thus prevents the ten
der vines from being scorched in the hot
test weather.
May is the best month for setting tn,
plants. If the water can be controlled /
should be raised very near to the top of tn
sand, so as to make it soft enough to pres
the vines in with the fingers. The watel
should be kept near the surface until tn,
plants begin to grow, when it may be drawr
foot below. The weeds and grass should
be kept entirely out the first and second
years. If care has been taken to cover with
sand free from weed seeds, there will be bu,
little labor required to keep the crop per
EectIy clean A small crop Of fruit may bt
expected the second year, and the third
year nearly n average crop; but . very
large crop should not Be expected until The