178 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



and we are enabled to treat them with sand to any extent, if 

 they desire it. There are a great many ponds on the Cape, 

 as there are in other pine-groAving countries. I remember 

 that in Sweden, and in some parts of Germany, where pines 

 grow over large areas, there are fresh- water ponds in all di- 

 rections, and we have them on the Cape. Large quantities 

 of cranberries are raised around the edges of these ponds, 

 where the slope is very gentle, so that the vegetable growth 

 and decay gradually extend off towards the deep water. The 

 cranberry growers remove the bushes, roll on some sand, and 

 set their vines. Then there are a great many places ail about 

 there where there were once extensive ponds ; lowlands which 

 have been entirely covered over by the vegetable growth and 

 decay of past ages. There will be at the bottom, probably 

 where the old sand surface was, a hard-pan that will hold 

 water up, and above it will be peat, which is a little n)ore 

 manageable, and a vegetable growth that is excellent for the 

 roots of the berries. We roll our sand over the surface, af- 

 ter having ditched it off properly, and set our vines in rows 

 fifteen inches apart, each hill fifteen inches from its neighbor 

 at the corners ; rake it down both ways, and put the hills 

 down at the intersection of the teeth as we rake across. 



There are two sorts of berries which are becoming more 

 and more popular. One is what we call the early black berry, 

 which comes into market before anything else, which is 

 round, very shiny and lustrous in appearance, and escapes 

 the frosts entirely in consequence of being ready for the mar- 

 ket early ; and then, coming into market before any other 

 kind, we get better prices for it. Then there is a larger and 

 lighter-colored berry, known in that region as the James P. 

 Dennis berry, which brings a high price in the market. This 

 variety is being extensively cultivated, and sent in different 

 directions in this country and abroad. 



When we get the vines set, then, of course, the fight is, 

 in the first place, with the weeds. Keep them entirely clear of 

 weeds for two years, the runners from those vines will begin 

 to grow, and will extend five, six or seven feet in different 

 directions and cover the surface all over. When they fairly 

 get possession of the land, they will hold it against weeds. 

 But unless you assist them in the outset by weeding, or by 



