The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-28
CRANBERRY PLA1S.
How to Raise the berries Successfully ON
Small Scale.

1
Small Scale.
Nearly all the cultivated cranberries
produced in this country are produced
on very large plantations. They some
| times embrace several hundred acres,
| and are managed like other great COM
mercial enterprises. A swamp or bay
is purchased. the turf removed. the
| surface covered with saud. dam built
for flooding it, and gate made to let
off the water when it is desired to do so.
The site is generally selected Ter the
reason that wild cranberry vines are
growing upon it. Their presence shows
that the conditions are favorable to
cranberry culture. In the spring plants
or cuttings are obtained and planted in
rows eighteen to twenty-four inches
apart, and the ground kept free from
grass and weeds during the summer and
fall. On the approach of winter water
is let on and the plants are flooded.
This saturates the sand and the peat
below it with water, kills the insects
that may be in them, and keeps the
plants from being killed by the cold.
As soon as the frost leaves the ground
in the spring the food-gate should be
opened and the water let off. The
vines will not make a large growth the
season they are planted, but during the
second year they will completely cover
the ground.
Great as has been the success of large
cranberry growers, few have attempted
to raise them on a small scale. This
seems somewhat strange. Many farm
ers raise the currants, gooseberries,
Strawberries, raspberries and blackber-
ries needed for home consumption, but
they buy the cranberries they use. if
they have any. The great majority of
farmers have none, for the reason that
they are not kept in country groceries,
or because their price is above their
means. A small patch of cranberries
will prove to be paying investment
to any farmer who has a piece Of bog
land on his place and facilities for
flooding it. When it is once prepared
and good stand of plants has been OBJ
tanned, no further labor will be required
except to gather the fruit. There are
good reasons for expecting that it will
produce crops for fifty years. A cram
berry patch will continue to be pro-
ductive longer than an apple orchard.
Cranberries ordinarily sell for g. so per
bushel. aud good picker can gather
two bushels or more a day, No small
fruits will keep as long as cranberries,
and none are more desirable. They are
to the winter season what Strawberries
are to summer.
1t is best to make the surface of the
cranberry patch level and to remove
from it all grass and the roots of bushes.
The sod can be cut with pillow and
used in constructing dam. The sur
face should be covered with clean sand
so that it will be from three to four
inches thick. Great pains should be
taken during the first season to prevent
the growth of grass and weeds. In
cultivating a patch containing only
few square rods no implements will be
required but common hoe and garden
rake. These move through the sand
very easily. Plants can be obtained
from any of the large growers in Mich
igan and Wisconsin at very low price.
The bell and pear varieties. so-called
from their shape. are the best. These
berries are of large size and when ripe
have a fine color. Cranberries will
grow far north of the region where APP
pie trees will be killed by the cold.
Nearly all the acid fruits, except the
lemon, do best in a cold climate
Chicago Times.