CRANBERRY CULTURE. 131 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



BY S. B. PHINNEY, BARNSTABLE, MASSACHUSETTS. 



The cultivation and propagation of the cranberry ("Oxycoccns macrocar- 

 pus") is now largely increasing throughout the country to such an extent and 

 importance as to merit a larger notice than can be given it in this article. 



Although one species of this popular fruit is known in England and on the 

 continent, yet it does not compare with that grown in JMassachusctts, where 

 the cultivation first commenced in this country, dating back in Barnstable 

 more than fifty years. While there is everywhere such a large demand for 

 this fruit, it seems really surprising that its cultivation should not have more 

 nearly kept up the supply to the demand. 



It grows on land almost valueless, with comparatively little cultivation or 

 care after the bed is properly started ; is readily enough harvested ; brings a 

 great price, and keeps a long time after being gathered. 



There seem to be but two serious troubles in cranbeny -growing in Maesa- 

 cliusetts. One, the "worm," more fully described hereafter; and the other, 

 early autumnal frosts ; and both difficulties can be overcome by flooding at the 

 proper time, if the location of the cranberry bed will admit of it. 



1 have personally examined a considerable number of cranberry bog?, and 

 have been a cultivator of the cranberry since the spring of 1851, yet I do not 

 rely so much upon the facts and information Avhich my own experience has 

 given me as upon the statement and collection of reliable data which have been 

 furnished me by Amos Otis, of Yarmouth, Massachusetts, who likewise 

 acknowledges himself largely indebted to Professor Agassiz, of Harvard Uni- 

 versity, for whatever of success has attended his investigation of this important 

 subject. 



Half a century has now elapsed since Captain Henry Hall, of Dennis, in the 

 county of Barnstable, commenced the cultivation of the cranberry. His bog, 

 or "cranberry yard," as he called it, has no year since failed of producing a 

 remunerative crop. For the thirty years next after Mr. Hall commenced, many 

 experiments were made by others, and most of them proved to be failures; 

 but these failures had their use; they prevented others from flilling into like 

 eiTors. The general cultivation does not date back further than the year 1850, 

 yet since that date there have been many failures, and many bogs recently set 

 will never yield remunerative crops. By this term, and by "successful culti- 

 vation," I mean that the crops, including the present value of the bogs, have 

 more than repaid the original cost, interest, and incidental expenses of culti- 

 vating, picking, and sending to market. 



EXPERIMENTS AND FAILURES. 



On the bog of Mr. Hall every fact necessary to be known might have been 

 learned, yet the information to be derived from his experiments was not often 

 sought or regarded. Almost every beginner had a theory of his own, not based 

 on his own or the experience of others, and the result was that nine out of to? 

 who made such experiments failed of success. 



During the last fifteen years cultivators have been more discreet. Before 

 expending much time or money they examine other bogs, collect information 

 from those who had had experience, and thus avoid falling into some of the 

 errors of their predecessors. Though many facts in regard to the culture, and 



