136 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



has been realized. Manj Lave lost all they have spent for want of infor- 

 mation and want of experience, and a few who were successful have realized 

 large profits. Mrs. Winslow, of Brewster, in this county, realized a thousand 

 dollars from a single acre. I might name many ethers who have realized 

 nearly as large profits. At the present time the man who carefully collects the 

 information which has been gradually acquired during fifty years of experi- 

 ments may as safely rely on a profit from his investment as any farmer can 

 from any other cultivated crop, and the facts will show it. Can a single in- 

 stance of failure be pointed out where the mode of culture described has been 

 carefully followed ] 1 know of no single instance, and I have examined many 

 bogs for the purpose of ascertaining the correctness of the theory and practice 

 now recommended. I have endeavored to sift out from voluminous statements 

 the facts that are of value, and I will now recapitulate them in a form easily 

 retained in the memory 



1. The cranberry cannot be successfully cultivated on the drift formation — 

 that is, on a soil composed of clay or loam. 



2. There must be the means of draining the bog eighteen inches below the 

 general surface. 



3. All bushes, wild grasses, and roots must be pared off and removed. 



4. If the soil does not naturally consist of sand and an admixture of peaty 

 matter, it must be artificially corrected ; if peat, by putting on beach-sand, or 

 sand composed of fine particles of quartz rock ; and if pure sand, by adding 

 peaty matter. 



5. It is desirable but not essential to have the command of water, so that the 

 water in the ditches can be raised within twelve inches of the surface at any 

 time, and also in sufficient cjuautity to flood the bog in the winter or spring. 



STATISTICS OF THE CRA.\BERRY CROP IN BARNSTABLE COUNTY. 



The following table shows the amount of cranbemes raised in Barnstabl 

 county, Massachusetts, during the season of 1863, and the prices- for which 

 they sold jier barrel : 



Towna. 



No. of bbls. 



Price. 



Amount. 



Harwich .... 



Brewster . . . . 



Dennis 



North Dennis 



Chatham 



Barnstable . . . 



Yarmouth 



Sandwich 



Province town 



2,697 

 611 

 ■ 423 

 402 

 108 

 425 

 200 

 175 

 125 



S9 50 to $11 GO 



9 00 and 10 00 



9 00 and 10 00 



9 00 and 10 00 



9 00 and 10 00 



10 00 



10 00 



10 00 



9,50 



5,176 



$26,934 50 

 6, 031 00 

 4,054 75 

 4,000 00 

 1,640 00 

 4,250 00 

 2,000 00 

 1, 750 00 

 1, 187 50 



51,847 75 



Barnstable county was the earliest in the culture of the cranberry, and froi 

 the best information to be obtained it is estimated that it now produces nearly 

 one -half of all that are cultivated in the State. This would give somewhat 

 over 10,000 barrels for the year 1863. There is a great increase in the con- 

 sumption of the cranberry, and this fact should encourage those who possess 

 lands of the kind pointed out to make an eflbrt to cultivate the vine. 



