50 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the situations described, including the original preparation by 

 paring, fencing, filling up with sand, procuring and setting out 

 the roots, has more frequently been about $300 per acre. In 

 many cases within my knowledge, the owner has contracted to 

 pay at the rate of $1 87|^ a square rod for preparing the 

 land and setting out the plants properly. In somewhat more 

 favorable situations, the contractor pays $1 50 a rod, or at the 

 rate of $240 per acre. 



When the roots are thus transplanted, a foot or a foot and a 

 half being left between them, they are expected to spread and 

 entirely cover tlie ground with vines, in about three years. 

 If the plantation is troubled by grasses at first, the rapid 

 growth of the plants will generally destroy them in the course 

 of three or four years. In one of the most successful cases 

 which have come under my observation, where the plants have 

 been set about six years, the quantity of grass and weeds was 

 much less the last season than the preceding; the vines pro- 

 duced abundantly, and there seems to be every reason to sup- 

 pose that the cranberries will very soon take full possession of 

 the ground. But if they are set sufiiciently near, and have a 

 proper amount of labor bestowed upon them, they will ordi- 

 narily, on sand, get an early hold of the ground and bid defi- 

 .ance to all opposition. 



In some swamps and peat meadows, generally denominated 

 " shaky," the surface is composed of a matting of roots, mosses, 

 and various undecomposed organic matter ; the whole of which 

 seems to rest on a liquid, or almost liquid, bed beneath. This 

 top matting may be thick and strong enough to prevent a per- 

 son walking over it, from falling through. In such cases, the 

 surface cannot very well be taken off, and the sand must be put 

 upon the top ; but careful consideration should be given to 

 the quantity used, as, if too much be put on, its weight may 

 sink the whole surface into the water beneath. Two or three 

 inches will commonly be found as much as it is prudent to use. 

 I have seen several examples where a neglect of reasonable 

 precaution, in regard to this matter, has cost the owner the 

 loss of all his labor and expenditure. 



The mode of treatment which has been described, will be 

 found to be the best for swamps surrounded by large quantities 



