CRANBERRY CULTURE. I37 



give way before the magic power of a resolute will. Then let the 

 worthless marshes and bogs that blot and disfigure our farms, be 

 cleared up and transformed into meadows of cranberry vines, 

 yielding in due time their ripe, ruddy fruit, beautiful, wholesome, 

 and pleasant withal to the taste. 



Thus can we improve our farms and our health, elevate our 

 manhood, replenish the family exchequer, benefit our fellow-men, 

 and vindicate our claim to the high social and moral distinction 

 that rightfully belongs to every honest, intelligent tiller of the 

 soil. Thus may we hasten and justify the long-deferred, but 

 surely forthcoming and unanimous verdict, that, in substantial 

 worth, and dignity of character, the educated, progressive farmer, 

 free from debt, stands the peer of any man on the broad face of 

 the earth. 



Discussion of the Above Subject. 



President Shaw. In the town o.f Franklin, Mass., some ten or 

 twelve miles from where I was born, there is a cranberry bog, 

 which the owner prepared some thirty-five or forty years ago. 

 There is a small stream of water that flows through it, and he put 

 in dams occasionally so he could flow the whole of it. A ther- 

 mometer is kept there, and when there is felt to be danger of 

 frost, the man who has charge of the bog goes out at night and 

 examines the thermometer, and if it is down to 40° he lets on the 

 water. It can be drawn off as readily as let on. In that way they 

 control the elements. In the vicinity where I formerly resided, 

 quite a business is done in raising cranberries on the lower lands 

 or bogs. They have no means to flood them, and they seem to 

 come into vines naturally. They occasionally cart on sand or 

 gravel, and spread it two or three inches thick ; it seems to be 

 what the vines need. They do it in the winter, on sleds if there 

 is snow, if not, on carts. 



Question. Is it absolutely necessary to remove the surface grass 

 before setting the plants ? 



Pkes. Shaw. I do not, from my observation, consider that it is 

 absolutely necessary, but if you get the grass and weeds out of 

 the way the vines have nothing to overcome. If not, it takes a 

 series of years for them to become master of the situation and 

 produce crops ; but they will do it finally. 



Mr. IIiGHT. I have about an acre of land that is covered with 

 muck to a depth varying from six inches to a foot, and then you 



