CRANBERRIES. 285 



fishing' ground of men not long since deceased. The soil is 

 exceedingly moist, and by a slight pressure of the foot a large 

 area of surface is easily shaken. There are many patches where 

 the vines have completely covered the surface, and were full of 

 berries. We saw fifteen able bodied men employed in gather- 

 ing the berries, and understood that they would be occiipied, in 

 this work, for six vfeeks. They were using the rake, but were 

 required to pick by hand any fruit which it did not gather, and 

 thus the whole was thoroughly gleaned. 



It is worthy of remark how attentive is the owner of the 

 meadow to provide for the comfort of these laborers, who are 

 exposed to stand in the water many hours each day. Probably 

 much of his success may be attributed to his kind treatment of 

 those who thus wrought faithfully and with more than ordinary 

 care for his benefit. 



It may not be improper to state that, for the berries gathered 

 upon this meadow last year, the owner received, in a single 

 payment, 83,250 ; and that the crop Avas enlarged, the present 

 year, to at least 1,500 bushels, which was all contracted for by 

 one firm, at eight dollars per barrel. 



Many of the natural cranberry meadows in this county are 

 liable to much injury from late and early frosts, which destroy, — 

 the one the blossoms, and the other the ripening fruit ; nor can 

 this evil be guarded against except the advantage be had of 

 easily flowing the land. The danger of such injury, however, is 

 less upon the seaboard than in the interior, and in the upland 

 culture than in low meadows. Near the sea the finest and most 

 hardy fruit is grown, on beds of pure moist sand often washed 

 by the waves ; and in other localities, by upland culture, on a 

 good soil, with the use of peat, or other absorbent, as a covering. 

 On the borders of large rivers, where freshets occur, the growing 

 crops are often destroyed by being overflowed too long. This 

 has been the case, to a great extent, in our own county this year, 

 along the banks of the Charles and Neponset rivers. There is, 

 too, another evil, and which results from the artificial flowing of 

 extensive tracts of meadow, for the growth or preservation of 

 cranberries. Where the water is allowed, as is commonly the 

 case, to remain upon the meadow till after vegetation has com- 

 menced, and is then only gradually removed, or is renewed on 

 the first apprehension of early frost, a malaria is often created, 



