Cranberry Culture. 321 



sold at $3.50 to $4 a barrel ; November, 1889, $4 to $7.50 ; April, 1889, $3.50 

 to $5.50 ; November, 189G. and January, 1897, $5 to $5.50 ; April, 1897, $3.50 to $5 : 

 and November, 1901, $6 to $7. The highest prices noted were $15 to $16 a barrel 

 in April, 1874; $14 to $15 in April, 187G; $13 to $13.50 in January, 1884: 

 $13 to $14 in March, 1895 ; and $10 to $12 in January, 1903. No prices are 

 accessible for 1880, 1881, 1882, 1884, 1887, and 1888. The usual price has been 

 from $7 to $10 a barrel. 



VARIETIES. 



SELECTION FOR PLANTING. 



In the beginning the cranberry grower was wholly dependent upon the native 

 bogs for plants with which to stock his plantations. In some of the most exten- 

 sive cranberry-growing regions this practice is still common. In those sections 

 where the industry has been developed to its greatest perfection, however, these 

 pioneer methods have bn abandond. Attention is now given to selecting those 

 plants for stock purposes which not only show health and vigor, but which pro- 

 duce fruits of desirable form and color The result is that there are several 

 well-recognized types of the fruit classified according to form, and each type 

 has several well defined cultural varieties. 



The kinds of cranberries vary as greatly in productiveness and habits of 

 growth as do apples or peaches. As a result of this variation, many of the early 

 planted bogs were not profitable, and had to be torn out and planted with a 

 variety of greater commercial value. As with apples, those sorts which are largest 

 and command highest prices upon the market are frequently shy bearers, and 

 are only grown in limited areas to satisfy the fads of special markets. The ques- 

 tion of the varieties best suited to any given section is one of a local nature, 

 and must be determined by trial. In sections yet to be developed it may be found 

 that the climate and soil conditions are particularly well suited to sorts that are 

 shy bearers in the Cape Cod region, or the opposite may be true. For that 

 reason those contemplating taking up this industry in a new section will do well 

 to secure a number of different varieties of good repute from the various cran- 

 berry districts, rather than to place entire dependence either upon native stock 

 or even the best sort from any other region. The history of the development of 

 regions growing other standard fruits indicates that varieties are local. 



SHAPE OF FEUIT. 



The fruit of the native cranberry varies sufficiently in form to warrant a 

 classification based upon this character. Four forms are well defined and easily 

 recognized : The Bell, or bell-shaped cranberry : the Bugle, or bugle-shaped 

 cranberry ; the Olive, or olive-shaped cranberry ; the Cherry, or spherical cran- 

 berry. 



The Bell cranberry varies in size and outline from the Cherry or spherical 

 form to the more elongated type called "Bugle-shaped." The name was un- 

 doubtedly suggested by its fancied resemblance to the form of a bell. In some 

 regions, as in certain sections of New Jersey, this is the most popular form grown, 

 yielding well and producing fruits of high color, flavor, and keeping qualities. 



The Bugle cranberry is less frequently met within the market and in the 

 wild than either the Bell or Cherry types. Its more elongated form suggesting 

 a bugle is undoubtedly responsible for its name. 



The olive-formed cranberry is as its name indicates almost elliptical in out- 

 line. Some of the most highly valued sorts are of this form. 



The Cherry cranberry may be taken as the natural form of the fruit. In 

 native bogs this is usually the most abundant type, and in most regions where 

 the cranberry is cultivated this type predominates. Its spherical form and size 

 both warrant the use of the name Cherry. 



The diflSculty with any classification such as the foregoing is the variations 



HOR. 21 



