The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-02-07
Growing Granberries.

Last week we had something to say
about cranberries and the soil on which
they could be best grown. The soil
best adapted to the growing of this
fruit is a mixture Of sand and muck.
One way to obtain this desired soil Is
to haul onto the ground designed for
cranberries large quantities Of muck.
After this has decomposed cover 1t
with fine sand from the beach. In a
few years the two will become incorpo-
rated, making a fine, black, sandy soil.
On ground pre-eminently fitted for the
growing of cranberies the soil rarely
becomes dry except on the surface.
Stagnant water is to be avoided, as 1t
usually proves fatal. Running brooks In
such a meadow are of value, but they
must be under full control. The
ground must be in such shape that 1t
can be drained from one to two feet
below the surface. The streams are to
be used for winter flooding and sum-
mer irrigation. Some people advise
planting vines upon uplands, but such
locations are not advisable. True, the
vines will sometimes live and bear,
but it is an unusual state of affairs and
should not be encouraged; for instance,
writer's on cranberry growing say that
vines upon dry lands are short-lived,
blossoms are blasted, and the fruit is
dwarfed or badly worm eaten, the raw
ages of the fruit worm being greatest
upon dry soils.
According to the opinions Of some
growers. soil heavily impregnated with
oxide of iron should not be selected.
Nearly all of our readers will readily
recognize such soil by the iron rust"
that collects in the little stag
nant pools. The main objection to
such soil is that it freezes in a different
manner from most other soils, the ice
and frozen earth forming long crystals,
and these latter have a tendency to
throw out of the ground the little roots
Of the cranberry. 1t is true that such
lands can be used, but they will need
to be kept flooded in winter, and If by
any reason the water becomes drawn
off, disaster may follow.
The same objection is urged against
pure muck, as it will heave out the
vines during the freezing and thawing
process, if not covered by water or sand.
One or two inches of sand over the
muck will prevent this. Coarse or
flakey mucks are also to be avoided, as
they neither retain moisture, nor act as
q capillary sponge to draw up water
in dry seasons. Such soil can be used
only with irrigation.
Preparing q Swamp.
First dig draining ditch about two
feet deep lengthwise of the swamp and
wide enough to take all the storm water
that comes. The next move is to re-
move the turf, which may be some
times more easily done by first burning
off the dry grass. After the turf has
been removed, the branch drains may
be dug. The distance apart of these
drains will depend much upon the con-
dition of the soil, but some place them
at two rods apart. After this comes
the blowing and sanding. AS to the
depth of sand everything will depend
on the conditions. The depth must
vary according to the depth of the
muck and condition of the bottom,
most sand being required on those
meadows that have the deepest muck,
for the reason that layer of one or two
inches of sand on bed of deep, soft
muck would settle down and be lost
in the black mass underneath. Where
the muck is six or eight feet deep the
sand may be put on to the depth of five
or six inches, but when only a foot or
two in depth, two or three inches Of
sand will be sufficient. Summer, when
he swamps are dry, is the proper season
for preparing cranberry swamps.
More on this subject will appear in
q subsequent issue.