CHOICE OF LOCATIONS, 29 



rooted directly in the muck bottom, but rest among the 

 mosses above it — a twofold advantage being thus gained — 

 for the phmts are not only lifted above the water during 

 the growing season, but they are thereby prevented from 

 making an over abundant growth. 

 / The soil best adapted to the production of cranberries 

 ^is an equal mixture of coarse sand and muck^ which is most 

 certain to be obtained by covering well-decomposed muck 

 with beach sand, the latter leaving a clean surface for the 

 young plants ; while in a few years the two become thor- 

 oughly incorporated, making, as it were, a soil of black 

 sand. Could a soil of this composition be found in a state 

 of nature, rightly situated as regards moisture, much ex- 

 pense of sanding might be saved. 



Heath Ponds. 



Muck is frequently found to the depth of five or six 

 inches in heath ponds^ or low basins, — places naturally 

 flooded with water during winter. AVhen the muck in 

 these ponds is underlaid with coarse, white sand, a 

 cheap and valuable plantation m;iy bo made by plowing 

 to the surface t wo inches of the silicious subsoil, and, at 

 the same time, turning the muck under. 



Heath ponds are frequently underlaid with a very hard 

 substratum, known as the " hard pan," which is almost 

 impervious to water. It having acted an important part 

 in the formation of the pond, care should be taken not to 

 break through it while preparing for the vines, lest by so 

 doing the surface of the ground be rendered too dry. 

 One failure from this cause has come under our immediate 

 observation. Figure 4 gives a section of a heath pond, 

 showing the position of the different strata. 



In selecting a location, it is very important to observe 

 the varieties of plants or trees existing upon the ground. 

 Although no cranberry vines may be growing there, yet 



