Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-08-10
ON C1PE con.

OCCUPATIONS OF THE ik'lilf \ tl4ANif
At THE CRANBERRY iNDusrRY-TnE CARE
As \ SUMNER RESORT.
The description Of the people Of Cape Cod
in the novel called Cape Cod Folks" has
made fear n greater impression ON the
people there than on people elsewhere. Ger
tain it is that they imagine those who come
TO the Cape for the first time to entertain a
preconceived opinion against the place and
the people. But, whatever opinion one may
have formed, a stay there will convince him
that the locality is not the end Of the world
nor the inhabitants any but the most thrifty
and hospitable. have been through most
Of the towns ON the Cape, and find that all
possess the same general characteristics
The industries and occupations have chang
ed more there during the last few decades
than in Vermont While we have main
tanned the same general routine Of manu-
featuring and farming, they have made n
complete change. Thirty or forty years
ago, and even up to later time, ship build
ing, fishing and the manufacture Of salt
were the chief industries today compare
lively few are engaged in these occupations.
Indeed the first and last of these industries
do not exist while the inducements for a
seafaring life are 50 small that they attract
but few young men. The result is obvious
the young people 90 10 the cities. The oc-
cupation Of today is cranberry growing. A
few years ago many prophesied that the
market would soon be glutted with the
small increase Of the product hut as the
acreage increases from year to year, and
the prices increase, it has become "A settled
fact that it is a safe and sure Investment.
Perhaps IA description of a swamp or bog
may not he wholly uninteresting.
The first requisite for bog is "A certain
amount Of moisture. Until quite recently
it was deemed necessary 10 flow the
swamp during the winter months but,
while this is desirable where practicable, it
is not Indispensable. The swamps are made
level, litched at convenient intervals, vary
ing according 10 the location The turf is
taken of, and from three to seven inches Of
fine sand mot beach sand is spread on
The cuttings are set in rows, usually fifteen
inches apart each way. With good growth
they will cover the ground in four years.
\ few berries are expected the third year.
Aftera bog comes into bearing, a little care
insures fair crop, to say the least for sew
eral years OF course the plants are liable
to be winter killed, and in that respect it is
very desirable to have bog which can be
under several inches Of water during the
int A. H..
have naturally been looking more for land
suitable 10 convert into cranberry bugs
have in mind "A captain who has entered the
business quite extensively; that is to say,
he will have in one bog by next year some
thing like % acres. The land was covered
with small cedars and underbrush. These
were cut off and the roots dug out then
the land was ditched and sanded as ! have
described. The clearing was done when
the ground was frozen, as it was impossible
to work it at other times before it was
ditched. Fixing a swamp like this repre-
sents an outlay Of from $500 to $500 an
acre, probably. Where it is only necessary
to ditch or build small dyke, the cost is
much less After the plants are set, it is
Of course, necessary to keep the swamp
comparatively free from grass and seeds ::
this, however, does not imply very much
labor if care is taken at first. Swamps
which have been winter killed are burnt or
mown off, or dug up, and reset.
As almost every product of the soil now
adays is infested by some pest, so the cram
4 l.. r =. I
what is called the cranberry worm makes
two raids in a season. 1t usually appears
first in the early part of June, injuring the
/ leaves and again in the early part of July.
| To destroy it, tobacco. o.water-that is, leaves
| Of the tobacco plant steeped-and Paris
green are used some preferring the one
and some the other The worms are very
mall, and it requires glass to see thems
unless ones eyesight is very good but as
in the case Of potato bugs, people have be
learned the remedies
As for an average crop it is very difficult
to estimate. Fora wide range | should say
from 80 to l25 barrels per acre, though thi,
is quite indefinite The prices ranged las
year from 50 to $l2 per barrel, and the cos
Of picking marketing, etc, is at least 81
This lea,e a handsome profit Of from sion
to S4OO per acre. While we Nermonter
may indulge in some jokes at the expense o
the people ON the Cape, they can certainl!
give us plenty of excellent sauce"
Since the craze for cottage 10y the sea
has become 50 prevalent, many have turned
their attention to Cape Cod. 1t has, in
deed, many attractions which city peopl
will do well to recognize. Each year NOR
cottages are built, and still there are plent
Of desirable locations. Among the place
which offer special inducements are Fal
mouth, Hyannis and Chatham but ther
are other places equally pleasant, thong
perhaps not So well known And as fo
the people, they will give strangers a heart
welcome. HENRY d. WHITNEY.