The Newark journal., 1904-01-15
THE CRANBERRY.
Where They Grow and Some Peculiar
tiles of the Fruit.

The name of the cranberry is
probably derived from the pc,
culiar appearance of the bud be
fore expanding into the perfect
flower. The stem, calyx and pet
ais somewhat resemble the neck,
head and bill Of Il crane, giving the
fruit the name of ''craneberry" or
''cranberry.' The small variety
of cranberries is found on the peat
boys of the New England states,
Of Pennsylvania and westward to
Wisconsin. \ certain variety,
says the Prairie Farmer, is found
in the Dogs of Virginia and Min
nesota and in the British posses
slons. New Jersey is one Of the
great cranberry states, and in
South America, Russia and occa-
sionally on the barren plains of
Siberia the CHEEKY little berry is
found. 1t grows wild in many
parts of North America, but the
two chief points of cultivation
are Cape Cod and New Jersey,
with minor points in Maine and
the northwestern states. When
the supply was limited and could
be procured only from the wild
marshes, erahberfies were very
cheap. But since they have been
made an object of cultivation and
been displayed in the markets,
many persons heretofore ignorant
of the existence or use of such
a fruit have experimental with il,
and the consequence is that cram
berries now bring a very high
price.
The cranberry is peculiar in its
tastes and habits. On some soils
it cannot be made to grow at all,
while on others it is hardy and
easily propagated. In such places
vines dropped upon the ground
often take root and grow. It's fa-
yorite resorts are swamps and
morasses which contain rich de
composed vegetable matter known
as muck. During the wet season
the sWamps flood, but if they are
suitable for cranberry growth
they must dry during a portion of
the season, though they seldom
dry to depth of more than one
half inch. Vines may appear to
flourish in swamp which is wet
the entire season. but if closely
observed it will be seen that the
roots are embedded in the moss
growing above the water, the
moss having the property of re-
tanning enough moisture to sup
port the vine.
In New Jersey there is variety
in which the fruit is cream colored
when fully ripe, and remains SO
even if kept for many months.
They are of good size, excellent
flavor and keep well. The bright
est Colored berries bring the best
prices, though not always of the
best flavor. Some berries turn red
after picking. The best favored
varieties are of medium size,
many of the large varieties being
hollow. Small berries are the best
keepers and also the most solid.
The work of planting the vines.
often falls to the women. Two
work together, the one dropping
the vines into the drills from Il
bundle which she carries under
her arm, the other following with
a hoe. The picking season is
eagerly looked forward to by the
owner and his help. In the
marshes of New Jersey they be-
gin picking a certain variety
about the middle of September.
The other picking usually begins
about the first of October, as all
berries must be off the vines be
fore frost comes. In the fine Oc-
tober weather almost a picnic is
made of the work, and women and
children turn out to the fields
with bright faces and well-flled
lunch baskets. Care must be tax