824 THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



poses. Its color is dark-red purple when ripe, and is of a very high flavor. It bears most 

 abundantly after the young wood, on which it produces its best fruit; attains a height of four 

 or five feet ; usually begins to ripen early in August, and even sooner. The fruit is produced 

 on branches continually pushing out from all parts, successively appearing in various stages 

 of growth, from the blossom to perfect maturity; and often there may be counted more than 

 fifty berries on a branch. As the fruit of each branch successively ripens, the later ones 

 gradually diminish in size; but there is no suspension of blooming or fruiting before the plant 

 is checked by frost. If protected in-doors, it undoubtedly would produce during the winter 

 months. One great advantage of this over other varieties of the raspberry is, that if the 

 stocks should be accidentally broken or cut off, or should be killed by winter frost, it is all 

 the better for the crop. Another advantage is, that from the small space of a few yards well 

 cultivated, a daily dessert for a small family would be at hand for from three to four months 

 of the year. Horticulturist. 



The Ground Cherry. 



UNDER this name, Mr. P. S. Beers, of Southville, Connecticut, describes in the Horti- 

 culturist a fruit of a species of Solanum. It is about the size and shape of a cherry, of a 

 cream color, and enveloped in a dry, paper-like calyx. It is much more agreeable to the 

 taste, when eaten raw, than any tomato. The stalk of a full-grown specimen is nearly an 

 inch in diameter at the ground, and about three feet high; its habits of growth are similar to 

 the tomato. It bears transplanting well, and comes to maturity early in the season. If sown 

 from the seed, care must be taken that the young plants are not mistaken for weeds, and 

 rooted up. Mr. Beers states that this fruit is excellent for pies and preserves, and also for 

 eating in a raw state. 



On the Cultivation and Propagation of the Cranberry. 



MR. SULLIVAX BATES, of Bellingham, Massachusetts, who has given much time and atten- 

 tion to the cultivation of the cranberry, furnishes the following information respecting the 

 culture of this valuable and profitable fruit. In regard to the selection of soils and varieties 

 of the plant, Mr. Bates says 



Select a situation for your cranberry-field on a clay soil, on such as is not liable to bake, 

 or on a dark loam soil, or on all moist soils where there is a mixture of sand ; reclaimed 

 lands, such as can be made moderately dry, are well adapted to grow the cranberry. Per- 

 sons commencing the cultivation would do well to distribute their plants in different locations, 

 as by so doing the best soils may be ascertained. As far as ascertained, there are three 

 varieties of the cranberry susceptible of cultivation in the United States the barberry, the 

 cherry, and the bell. The last-mentioned seems to be the only variety that can be made to 

 flourish in a dry soil. In its wild and cultivated state, it is much larger than either of the 

 others, and is frequently found on the borders of bogs, extending towards the uplands. , Those 

 engaging in the cultivation of the cranberry should select the bell variety; and by commenc- 

 ing with those that have been cultivated and naturalized to a dry soil, they will much sooner 

 accomplish their object, and with much less trouble and expense, as the plants multiply and 

 increase abundantly. Persons commencing with one or two thousand, will be able to obtain 

 plants of their own raising sufficient to transplant acres in two or three years. In extensive 

 field-culture no great degree of moisture is necessary, but a uniformity is to be desired. Soils 

 adapted for the strawberry are suited to the cranberry, but no animal or vegetable manure 

 should be applied. The vines propagate by runners like the strawberry. Where the land is 

 rich, and liable to grass and weeds, we prepare the ground by removing the top soil at a 

 sufficient depth to prevent their growth. This may be easily done by plowing the sod, and 

 removing the top soil in carts or otherwise. The object in doing this, is to make the soil so 

 poor that nothing will grow to obstruct the growth of the cranberry. 



If the land is poor, so that grass and weeds will not vegetate, then it may be plowed and 

 harrowed without other preparation the greatest object in cultivation being to have the plants 



