SECRETARY'S REPORT. 53 



lived ; but as tlie plantation was only three years old, and the 

 rows too far apart, they had not wholly covered the ground, 

 nor had they borne to any extent. 



In the cultivation of cranberries, whether on upland or low- 

 land, it is very important that the ground should be entirely cov- 

 ered by the vines as soon after planting as possible, not only on 

 account of the great saving in labor, by thus preventing the 

 growth of grass and weeds, but also, because very little fruit 

 is commonly produced till the vines have thus spread over the 

 surface. At the end of three years the whole ground should 

 be covered ; but in the instances of upland culture referred to, 

 it was not so, though the plantation had been set at least three 

 or four years. Probably, if the roots had been put but twelve 

 or eighteen inches apart each way, the result of the experi- 

 ments would have been more satisfactory in this respect. As 

 it was, however, the yield in 1852, was one bushel to the square 

 rod, when cranberries were selling readily at four dollars per 

 bushel. 



But, in estimating the comparative profits of the upland and 

 lowland cultivation, it will be borne in mind that the labor on 

 upland is greater, and the land more valuable for other pur- 

 poses. The liability to frosts, is not, however, quite so great 

 when the cranberries are in blossom. There can be no doubt 

 that it will grow and do well on upland, and produce too, a 

 superior fruit ; but it seems to prefer a poor, sandy soil, full 

 of moisture, such as can be best obtained by improving swamps, 

 which, unless used for this purpose, are nearly worthless. 

 Half an acre of cranberries, on a very rich upland soil has 

 been estimated by the owner to have cost him, after being set four 

 years, and including labor, interest of land, and other expenses of 

 cultivation, about $300, or at the rate of nearly $600 to the 

 acre ; whereas, it has been seen that the roughest and most 

 unpromising swamps may be reclaimed and set with cranberries 

 at about half tliat amount. If the soil be a rich loam, as in 

 the case above mentioned, the grass and weeds struggle very 

 hard for the mastery, while on the poor and barren sand they 

 hardly gr'ow at all if the ground has been properly prepared 

 in the first instance ; so that the labor of cultivation is but 

 very little, at most, and many think that no care at all is 



