444 



hottest days of August last. The peat of this phiutation is several feet 

 ill depth, (cedar bottom,) and is capable of still higher cultivation owing 

 to the general mellow condition of the soil and its being well snpplied 

 ■with water. I do not consider that the extra depths of these ditches 

 will prove injurious to the vines, provided they are supplied with sub- 

 stantial ditch-gates to enable the person in charge to regulate the height 

 of water in the ditches at will. 



With the committee I next visited the bog of Mr. Goodell, near the 

 village of Bricksburgh. We stated the object of our visit to the pro- 

 prietor, and with his assistance we commenced an investigation. The 

 vines had been treated with a light sprinkling- of lime over their sur 

 face for the last three years, and he believed that the treatment in ques- 

 tion destroyed worms and modified the rot ; but on looking over his 

 grounds we found many examples of rotting berries. With his permis- 

 sion we dug up the first clump of vines upon which such berries were 

 found. The roots were very large, and were matted aud dark in color. 

 At a few yards' distance from the first plants removed, we found a very 

 healthy clump of vines, the berries of which were sound and of a good, 

 acid taste. The roots of these vines were found to be very small, and 

 much whiter than the first examined. On seeing this Mr. Goodell 

 exclaimed, " Something wrong with the roots," although he was not 

 aware that I had already reached the same conclusion. He complained 

 that the soil was frequently sour, aud had sometimes the odor and taste 

 of acid. I was frequently informed during the early part of my investiga- 

 tion that the cranberry on Cape Cod is not subject to rot. Indeed, per- 

 sons from that section assured me that rot, or scald of the berry, is 

 wholly unknown in that region. As the statements seemed trustworthy, 

 I suggested to the cranberry growers of Xew Jersey, that an examina- 

 tion of the conditions under w^hich the cranberry-vine was said to be so 

 successfully cultivated there, might lead to i^ractical benefits. With 

 this view I procured proper introductions to the leading cranberry growers 

 of that region, and proceeded to Cape Cod, arriving at Harwich Centre 

 about the.2Gth of July. The first plantations visited were those of 

 Captains Robins and Small, both extensive and experienced growers of 

 cranberries. 1 also visited the plantations of Dr. Pitcher aud others, at 

 Hyannis. Contrary to expectations and reports, I found the rot of the 

 cranberry to be well known on Cape Cod, and on just such soil and nu- 

 der the same general conditions as in the vicinity of Bricksburgh, N. J. 

 Fermenting peat-bottom, or fermenting sanded grass-bogs, subject to 

 back water, large matted roots, and berries, either bitter or of the tlavor 

 of flat acid — such were the circumstances under which diseased berries 

 were uniformly found. But, as in Xew Jersey, there are on Cape Cod 

 very fine plantations free from disease. Although nearly all of the 

 plantations of Captains Robins aud Small indicated high cultivation, 

 the favorable condition of their soil and surroundings had as much to 

 do with the production of good crops as had the attention bestowed on 

 them. Many i^atches which had proved a failure were pointed out to 

 me during my inv^estigations on Cape Cod, although in some cases more 

 money had been wasted on them in bringing them under high cultiva- 

 tion thau had been spent on the successful bogs. My examination has 

 shown, thus far, that in every iustauce sour soil, high temperature, and 

 large, dark, matted roots are the invariable attendants of rotting berries. 



Much diversity of opinion exists on Cape Cod, as well as in New 

 Jersej'^, as to the best kind of peaty bottoms to be used for cranberries. 

 I have found successful cultivation of this crop ou cedar and maple 



