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“ MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 77 
What was then said about glutting the market is manifestly true 
now. The demand has outrun the production by a constantly wid- 
ening distance. 
From 1860 onward the production was mostly confined to the 
thorough cultivators, centering mainly in Parnstable county, Massa- 
chusetts. That county contains admirable soil, a favorable climate, 
but a scarcity of water, yet producing annually a crop worth from 
$300,000 to half a million dollars. There is hardly a county be- 
tween St. Paul and the N. P. R. R. which does not contain more 
good cranberry lands than does this famous cranberry centre. Of 
late years New Jersey has become quite largely interested in cran- 
berry growing, and doubtless possesses much good land for the pur- 
pose. Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire have done 
something towards supplying the market, but it has failed to enlist 
much enterprise and capital in either of these States. Next to Mass- 
achusetts New Jersey has been most successful, yet it remains for 
Minnesota to outdo each and all other States in this most remunera- 
tive industry. 
FACILITIES FOR PRODUCING AND MARKETING. 
’ Minnesota undoubtedly possesses a greater area of land adapted 
to the production of the cranberry than any other region of the Unit- 
ed States. It has been officially estimated that the northeastern 
section of the State, bounded by the St. Croix, Mississippi and St. 
Louis rivers, alone comprises not less than 256,000 acres of cran- 
bery marsh. ‘The wild marshes can in most instances be drained 
and brought into cultivation. But this is only a small part of the 
area in the section above named. There are numerous situations 
where the cranberry does not grow wild, as favorable to cultivation 
as the best of the native marshes. Beginning with Carlton county, 
on the line of the L. S. & M. Railroad, and following down that 
road to St. Paul, extending to the left to the St. Croix river; at the 
right to the Mississippi river, on all the tributaries and sub-tributa- 
ries of both rivers, as also the Nemadji and its branches, good cran- 
berry lands exist to an unlimited extent. On the line of the N. P. 
Railroad, beginning with Crow Wing county, east of the Mississippi, 
and running west to the vicinity of Oak Lake, on both sides of that 
road, the explorer will constantly meet with admirable situations for 
cranberry culture. From Oak Lake, journeying towards St. Paul via 
Otter Tail and St. Cloud, keeping west of the Mississippi, through 
Wright and Hennepin counties, we will still find cranberry lands 
abundant. Our opportunities for observing the southern and south- 
western portions have been less, hut from having passed through by 
rail, seeing all that rapid traveling would allow, we judge these sec- 
tions are by no means destitute of lands suitable for cranberry rais- 
ing. 
With our extensive area, we have unquestionably a most favorable 
climate for this fruit. 
The abundance and early maturity of the wild product is sufficient 
evidence on this point. ‘The use of sand so largely on cultivated 
bogs accelerates the growth and early ripening of the fruit, and ren- 
