The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-08
CRANBERRY CULTURE.

Farmers Voice.

FARMER voice.
The cranberry of commerce (vaccininm
macrocarpum) Is found from the latitude
of Virginia west and extending up to the
latitude Of Lake Superior. The natural
location Is in or on the edges of peat
boys where the surface soil is sandy
They cannot be successfully cultivated
on loans or clay. To grow them success
fully for market. there must be means
of draining the bog 20 depth of eighteen
Inches. The surface must be cleared OF
all bushes. wild grass and roots. A muck
soil. not sandy, must have sand earted
on TO the depth of five inches or more
after the soil has been leyeied and pre-
pared. and the sharper the sand the bet
ter. if the muck Is several feet deep. a
foot OF sand may be necessary. The chief
difficulties ara late spring and early frosts.
and many insects infest the plants. The
only remedy against all this rs means OF
flooding and drawing OF the water at win.
Hence the proper draining of the soil,
accurate grading and flooding are neces-
sary to success. though they may be cul-
tivated In a small way by planting them
near the water level on sandy MARSHES
The object OF perfect leveiing and grad
ing il the saving of water In flooding.
IL the bog is extensive and will cost too
much TO bring the whole 20 uniform
level, different grades with low dikes be-
tween may he adopted An irrigation
engineer will understand this. and in such
case II Will he profitable TO employ an
engineer. There VIII be no mistakes and
money Will be saved In the end. You
vii thus see that unless the marsh is
naturally sandy considerable cost viii be
required and thus II Will also be aeon
that II viii not r6y TO undertake cram
berry cultivation, except sand Is near at
hand. and the thicker the coat of sand
required the longer the marsh will be
in coming into bearing. but once In bear
Ing II VIII continue indefinitely. On
marshes naturally sandy tile plants
should hear the third year. The planting
- done In the spring. Open narrow. shall
low fsssrows ten feet apart. and stres
the vines. cut into sections OF three inches.
rather thickiy therein. and covering them
slightly. being careful 20 leave one Of
the ends OF the vines above ground. If
plants are scarce plant the ends of the
vines eighteen Inches apart. three pieces
in place, bat the first mentioned pisn Is
preferable. There IS a considerable num-
Der Of cultivated varieties Among the
better sorts are the Bell. Cherry. Bagie,
Early Red Bell ana Cheeseberry. II you
have marsh natural TO xragnssrn uaoss
you have good cranberry soil Cranher-
rses are cured by being spread say five
inches deep ever hurdles made OF Hath
50 close as 90 prevent the berries from
falling through, These hurdles should
hs In room where there Is fun adrnis-
sion OF air ard may remain three weeks
tc thoroughly fspea, after which pick
out all unsound berries ard barrel for
shipment. IL your coli and water con
GttioHs are right. YOU can ancryf to spend
up 30 $fss an acre tn making tha ysianta-
finn since once made N Is caly necessary
80 keep the marsh clear Of such aquatic
plants as may be natural to such places.