The Globe-republican., 1895-08-01

prices on the market, the light colored
berries being suspected Of being un-
ripe. There are, however, berries that
are Of light cream color when fully
ripe. Some of the red varieties ripen
very unevenly and the half ripe ber-
ries hurt the sale of all. 1t is, there
fore, necessary in selecting vines, to get
those that ripen their fruit all the same
time.
In selecting vines to be transplanted,
those bearing large berries are pre-
ferred, as such are at a premium on the
market. This is an important point
and has much to do with selling the
berries on city markets, where the best
looking vegetables and berries are al
ways selected. The buyers judge by
looks and are often deceived. for most
varieties of fruit that are fine in flavor
are of medium size.
There are said to be two kinds OF
cranberry vines, one kind productive
and the other not. The productive vines
present the appearance of greenlsn
brown on the leaf, the spears and run
ners are fine and thin, and remarkable
for their wiry nature and aspect. They
seem of stunted growth, but form beau
tiful and tufted groups of spears In
their process of mating. The non
productive vines appear brighter and
stronger. and for these reasons are apt
to deceive the buyer. Such vines are
either diseased or are grown on soil
too rich for them and are running tc
tops.
Demand for the Cranberry.-The
cultivation of the cranberry is
limited to this century. Even 20 years
ago the men that started out to culti-
vate it were regarded as dreamers. The
demand for the berries in that day was
small, the price sometimes going as low
Of this few of the first cultivators sue
ceeGcd and the breeding up of better
varieties began. Though the supply
was constantly increased the demand
has more than kept pace with it, till
to-day the price is almost uniformly
per bushel. Within recent years SO
per bushel has been paid.
Soil for Cranberries.-In this ques-
ton every owner of swamp is inter-
ested. A suitable soil is absolutely
necessary. The plant is said to be
peculiar in its taste, on some apparently
good soils refusing to thrive, and on
others being easily made a success. But
skill and care are always advisable. A
man that intends to 60 into the bust
ness should visit a locality where cram
berry growing is a success, where he
will be able to form correct idea of
the soil required. What is known as
the alluvial formation is the only one
in which the cranberry succeeds we'll.
Sand or quartz rock, pulverized or
granulated, is alluvium, separated from
the drift by the waves of the ocean and
by the action of the moving
waters. The rich lowlands near the
outlets of rivers are of this formation,
as is also the mud found in the narrow
boys and creeks along the seashore, and
the muck or peat underlying swamps.
All alluvial formations are by the de-
posits from the waters. There are sew
eral kinds OF muck. but all have fer
tilizing effect on the cranberry vine.
Cranberries cannot be successfully cul-
tivated in the drift formation; that
is, on land formed by the action of the
great ice glaciers Clay and loan are
to be avoided, as they will not give a
good foundation for cranberry bed.
In subsequent articles We will have
more to say on the subject.