44 



Such a course should have been taken to improvefoue of the extensive- 

 plantations near Tom's River, alluded to in my previous report. 



There is much evidence to show that the roots of the cranberry-vine 

 succeed best when planted in loose, porous soil. While traveling 

 over the highly-cultivated plantation of Joseph G. Hinchman, he pointed 

 out a number of barren spots and strips of land, which in former years 

 had proved as well adapted to the growth of the vine as any other part 

 of his land. Mr. Hinchman stated that persons who were employed 

 in picking the berries, would frequently draw heavy boxes over the 

 vines, and in this way compact the sand or soil around the roots. 

 In other cases they would form in groups, and sit on the cranberry- 

 vines when taking their meals. In all such places the vines ceased 

 to grow thriftily. Col. D. Gowdy also remarked that he could not 

 account for the comparative barrenness of the land on the edges of 

 his artificial water-courses. He said that formerly the vines grew in 

 profusion on them, yielding fine crops of berries. On comparing the 

 edges of the water-courses, artificial and natural, of Mr. Hinchman with 

 those of Mr, Gowdy, a marked contrast appeared. On Mr. Hinchman's 

 plantation the profusion of vines and fruit growing on the margins of 

 the stream was quite remarkable. On the banks of his principal stream 

 the runners often extended from one to two yards in length, and were 

 frequently seen floating on the surface of the stream, and bearing an 

 abundance of ruby-colored fruit. When we take into consideration the 

 fact that hundreds of persons pass over all the cranberry lands during 

 the picking-season, it need not be surprising should a diminution of the 

 cranberrj'-crop occur from this cause. While making an examination of 

 the cranberry-plantation of Joseph J. White, near Pemberton, l!^. 

 J., I failed to detect the odor of sulphureted hydrogen in the culti- 

 vated soil, but under the trodden paths I found it in abundance. In 

 this fact we have at once a proof of the value of a porous soil, which 

 will not only allow its deleterious gases to escape into the atmosphere, 

 but will also permit the atmospheric air to penetrate freely to the roots of 

 the growing vines. 



In company with a committee, I visited the cranberry-plantations of 

 John Webb, of Jackson Township, Ocean County, who was doubtless 

 the first cultivator of cranberries in New Jersey. Mr. Webb commenced 

 his experiments about the year 1843, although having no practical 

 knowledge on the subject, but relying wholly on such information as he 

 gained from newspapers coming occasionally into his hands. Living as 

 he did in an isolated place, a few miles from Cassville, with no capital, 

 he was embarrassed with many difficulties ; still he persevered with his 

 rude experiments, studying, as it were, instinctively the habits of the 

 cranberry-plant, until success crowned his labors. On our arrival we 

 found that he had just completed the plowing of his cranberry bog. His 

 plan consisted in throwing up light furrows of vines, one on the other, 

 without allowing them to cover one another. I believe that Mr. Webb's 

 plan would prove very successful if applied to some of the plantations 

 I have described, as in the case of barrenness, and when polluted with 

 fermenting matter and sulphureted hydrogen. Bog lands covered with 

 clayey sand would be much improved by commingling it with the peat 

 soil, and in this way removing the clayey sand from the immediate roots 

 of the vines. In such cases, of course, the vines should be resanded 

 with coarse, sharp, clean sand. 



