14 CAPE COD CRANBERRIES. 



Sometimes, if the bog is of good, firm material, they will 

 not need it for ten years. But, if the bog is soft and 

 porous, the ditches must be cleared yearly, for several 

 years, until the bog becomes dry and firm. But when 

 we find a firm bog, in the first place, there will be in it 

 but few, if any, springs. 



A bog well-ditched and well-drained, is less expensive 

 to take care of than one which is very wet ; for less weeds 

 and wild stuff will spring up in it. 



CHAPTER IV. 

 GRADING AND LEVELLING. 



A bog should be graded and made as smooth and level 

 as possible in fact, as near a " water level " as it can be 

 made because if it is of a good, even grade, it will take 

 less water to flood it, and if the supply of water is lim- 

 ited, it is of course essential that this particular should 

 be closely attended to. On the other hand, if the sup- 

 ply of water is abundant, so much care need not be exer- 

 cised in this particular. If, for instance, a pond adjoins, 

 or a river runs through the bog, it will be readily seen 

 that it will answer all purposes to make the bog of its 

 natural grade. 



If there is a great deal of brake or other kinds of fern, 

 or other wild stuff, which is hard to kill, and the bog is 

 high enough to stand it, having a fall of from three to 

 six feet, then it will be well to turf the whole of it, and 

 have the top removed to the most convenient place, and 

 burn it on the spot, or deposit it upon the nearest adjoin- 

 ing ground. This course will save a great deal of labor 

 and extra expense in weeding. The advantage of this 

 course being apparent, the additional first cost will nevei 4 



