CRANBERRIES. 259 



there is much more land in cultivation now than ever before, 

 the whole quantity raised will probably equal that of any pre- 

 vious year. 



The principal reasons why the yield has been less than in 

 some previous years, are : — 



1st. The uncommon fruitfulness of last year over-taxed the 

 vines. For we find that those vines which produced so well 

 then, have yielded but sparingly this year, while those that bore 

 but little last year, have produced the principal part of the 

 present crop. It seems to be well ascertained that the cran- 

 berry, like the apple, will not produce large crops two years in 

 succession. 



2d. The water being unusually high in the ponds and swamps, 

 did not drain oflF in season for the fruit to come forward. 



3d. As a consequence of the superabundance of moisture, 

 grass and rushes have been more liable to come in, and have 

 been very injurious to the crops in low places. 



The committee are of opinion that those swamps which have 

 been laid down to cranberries the last few years have not been 

 raised sufficiently high, and that more fail from this than any 

 other cause. 



The committee are sorry to say that only one individual has 

 presented a statement of his experiments in the cultivation of 

 the cranberry — he having reclaimed one-fourth of an acre of 

 beach sand knolls, which was before entirely worthless, from 

 which he presents twenty quarts of very fine fruit taken from 

 one rod. 



In conclusion, we would add, that we see no reason why the 

 bad yield this year, should discourage any individual from 

 continuing the cultivation of the cranberry, and of reclaiming 

 swamps and filling up ponds for that purpose. If there is 

 too much water on some lots, and grass and rushes have almost 

 destroyed the fruit, our advice would be, to add a few inches 

 of sand, of the proper quality, reset the vines and hope for bet- 

 ter success for the future — for we are fully of the opinion 

 that the raising of cranberries will ever continue to be a very 

 profitable business in this county. All of wliich is respectfully 

 submitted. 



Obed Brooks, Jr., Chairman. 



