28 CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



cation of the soil, it bcinor situated on a slope which 

 received suihcient s])ring-\vater to keep the ground always 

 loose, or unpackeil, and somewhat of the nature of quick- 

 sand. If this jiatch had been drained sufficiently to make 

 the surface diy, and allow it to become packed, no doubt 

 the vines would have failed, and perhaps perished. 



Clay and loam are to be avoided, unless occurring in 

 small quantities mixed with sand or muck ; they then 

 tend to decrease the yield and improve the quality of the 

 fruit. Gravel is spoken of as belonging to the drift for- 

 mation — this means gravel composed in part of clay, 

 such as is used for road-making. 



There is a kind of gravel, however, composed of pebbles 

 and beach san 1, belonging to the alluvial formation, 

 which is well adapted to the growth of the vine. 



There exists also a variety of yellow sand, which, at 

 first sight, appears to contain a portion of clay ; but if, 

 upon being submitted to the test, it proves to be colored 

 sand only, it may be used to good advantage in preparing 

 the meadow. 



The test for sand or gravel to be used in cranberry 

 culture is this : Take a portion of the soil and compress 

 it tightly in the hand; if it is suitable, it \\ill fall 

 apart upon being released ; but if composed in part of 

 loam, it will adhere together after the pressure is removed. 



This is a simple but reliable test, and one much used by 

 practical growers. We knew one instance of failure, 

 where tho grower had planted his vines upon a soil that 

 strongly resembled clear, white sand, but upon examination 

 it was found to contain a large percentage of wiiite clay, 

 which readily accounted for the failure. 



The cranberry flourishes in pure muck, but in it the 

 growth is frequently so viirorous as to render the vines un- 

 productive, as well as soft and pliable, indicating a defi- 

 ciency of earthy matter in the soil. As stated in a previ- 

 ous chapter, vines growing naturally in a swamp, are not 



