CRANBERRY. 243 



Second. Preventing the frost in spring from injuring 

 the flowers. 



Third. Destroying the Cranberry-worms, which some- 

 times attack the plants and fruit. 



Assuming that these precautionary measures are neceah 

 sary to the best results, it follows that a situation should 

 be selected where the conditions named can be secured. 



Another important material, used in preparing Cran- 

 berry beds, is sand, which is spread over the surface of the 

 soil 



This not only in a great measure prevents the weeds 

 from growing until the plants have entirely covered the 

 beds, but keeps the fruit clean, besides making the surface 

 always open and friable. Sometimes the low peat beds 

 ire so rich in nutritive matter, unless sand is used, that the 

 vines would grow so luxuriant that they would be unpro- 

 ductive. 



In fact, very little alluvial soil is needed, and when the 

 deposit is a foot in depth, it will be fully equal, if not supe- 

 rior, to a situation where it is more abundant. In some 

 sections, they are grown in what appears to be almost 

 pure sand, there being scarcely a trace of nutritive matter 

 to be found, the water and the materials held in solution 

 therein, furnishing the principal portions of food to the 

 plants. 



The first step in preparing a Cranberry bed is usually 

 that of digging a broad, deep ditch entirely around the 

 plot, for the purpose of draining off the surface water, so 

 that the ground may be cleaned. If the soil thrown out 

 of the ditches is sufficiently compact, it may form the em- 

 bankments ; if not, then other soil must be added. When 

 the water has been removed, then clear off all trees, logs, 

 brush, and other incumbrances ; these may be burned on 

 the ground, and the ashes scattered over the surface, pro- 

 vided it can be done without endangering the soil. Some- 

 times, when the soil is very dry, there is danger of its bunt' 



