Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-07-28
-CHEBOYGAN COUNT VS. RESOURCES

Certain Money to be Made by Those
who Engage I'm the Respectable,
HcaIthful. and Remunerativc EN-.
pIoyment Of Cultivating the Gran
berry.
In considering the resources OF our
county there is one element which has
always been overlooked, and to this the
TRIBUNE would call attention. The con-
formation of the county, with its many
streams and marshes, suggests the idea
that the cultivation of the cranberry
would prove success. Our pine barrens,
which have hitherto been deemed almost
worthless, offer, in many cases, suit
able field for its production. From
personal observation and inquiry we are
satisfied that Northern Michigan offers
a field for enterprise in this direction,
and money judiciously INVESTED in this
business is almost sure to obtain good
returns. In Wisconsin, with soil and
climate almost identical with ours, there
are large districts where the cultivation
of the cranberry is brought to its high
est perfection, and where large sums
are annually spent in improving the
peat Dogs, with proportiOnably large
profits. Sixty years ago any one en-
barking in the cultivation of the cram
berry would have been compared to
mariner putting to sea without chart
or compass, but now, with so much ex-
perience to guide us, it is as clearly a
legitimate business, and yields as good
prospects of profit as wheat raising, and
the product is just as marketable. Tire
fact, which NAV not be generally known,
is that very few cranberries are export
ed-the home market consuming all
that are raised, and with great adj
vance in price.
CHOICE OF LOCATION
The alluvial formation is the only one
in which the cranberry can be success
fully cultivated. Sand or quartz rock,
pulverized or granulated, is alluvium-
separated from the drift by the waves
and currents of the ocean, or elevated by
the action of the waters. The deltas, or
rich interval lands near the outlets of
rivers are alluvium, and are formed by
the subsiding of the finer PARTICLES
brought down by streams. In fact, all
alluvial formations are caused by the
action of water.
For the successful cultivation of the
cranberry, the following requisites are
necessary: 1st, a peat or muck soil, free
from loan or clay, End, sandy bottom
and sides to the stream, 3rd, dam
and water to overflow the vines when
necessary, 4th, thorough drainage. With
out these advantages, and all of them,
there is little use in attempting the cul-
tivation of the fruit.
Good unimprOved cranberry soil, with
out timber, is worth from $25 to $50 an
acre. Properly preparing and planting
the ground costs from 800 to $500 an
acre. First-class meadows with three
year old vines are worth from $1,000 to
$500 an acre. If properly prepared, the
expenses of keeping cranberry marsh
free from foreign growth is very small,
averaging from So to $40 an acre per
annum.
A meadow of suitable soil and sur
roundings, will, on an average, pay for
itself and all the expense attending the
growth of the cranberry in four years.
Instances are known, where men paid
as high as $1,000 an acre, yet the
meadow paid for itself in three years.
Many columns might be written on
this subject, hut we think we have said
enough to call attention to the subject,
and in considering the inducements for
settlers to come here, the cranberry cul-
ture offers one which may be made
second only to the lumber interest.