RUSSIAN AND OTHER FRUITS. 305 



THE CRANBERRY. 



The Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) belongs exclusively to the north, 

 where it assumes much imjjortance as a commercial fruit. It is largely grown 

 for market from Ne^v Jersey northward to and including the British prov- 

 inces. The busiciess in New Jersey and Massachusetts is mainly confined to 

 the scacnast. 



Michig:i,ii, Wisconsin and Minnesota possess superior natural advantages of 

 both soil and climate for the purpose; and, although in these States the in- 

 terest is less fully developed, the production of this fruit here is being rapidly 

 inctpased. 



Many marshes throughout both peninsulas of Michigan were naturally 

 well stocke(l with the cranberry ; and, although during the settlement and 

 devel'pment of the state many of these have been drained and converted 

 into arable land, large tracts are still in their pristine condition. In Berrien 

 and Ottawa counties, and probably elsewhere, considerable tracts have been 

 pjepared and stocked with the vines with profitable results, and the business 

 seems likely to increase. 



Probably the most extensive pLmtations are to be found in Wisconsin. lb 

 is estimated that in four counties in the central part of this state there are 

 fully 50.0 acres of marsh adapted to the growth of this fruit, much of which 

 is already in process of improvement for this purpose. The usual procei^s 

 here seems to be to clear the ground of brush, and by partial drainage to 

 enable the pi ints to take possession of the soil, which they are said to do 

 within a comparatively short period, thus avoiding the expense of preparing 

 and planting the ground and cultivating till the plants have covered the sur- 

 face. 



A tract of 1,080 acres, owned by a company who have already invested a 

 considerable sum thereon, is being improv* d upon the following plan: At 

 the upper side of the marsh a reservoir of ample capacity is created by digging 

 a ditch across the slopn; (which is very slight), throwing the earth upon the 

 lt)wer side, thus constructing an embankment or dam, with sluices and flood- 

 ga'es a; convenient poio's, by nuans of which the water may be accumulated 

 an<l turned upo-n the space below at pleasure. 



B-l'>w. and at nght angles with the embankment already spoken of, a ditch 

 is <iiig n-arly centrally through the marsn, of sufficient capacity to receive the 

 waste and 8U plus water. The earth from this ditch is used to construct an 

 embankment upon each side thereof; and the water therein is maintained at 

 a dep h and wdth sutficnent to fl )at a sm ill flat-b >at, which is employed for 

 transporting material, as well as for Collecting the fruit when picked. The 

 lower end extends to and witliin a building, which serves as a storage and 

 packing room for the fruit when picked and awaiting transportation. 



The marsh below the reservoir is cut up by side and cross ditches into blocks 

 of five or more acres, each of which is capable of being separately fl loded from 

 the reservoir and ditches above by means of sluices, as already described. 



\\ hen a new block has been prepared the sluices entering it are left open, 

 and it is kept flooded during the growing season, with the result that the trees, 

 shrubs, and buthes growing thereon are killed. The sluices are then closed, 

 the tret s and brush, if any, removed ; and the cranberries that may be already 

 thereon left to take full possession. In case of a block not sufficiently stocked 

 with natural plants for the purpose, the ground is carefully fitted as for a 



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