390 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



fully managed the planting, growing, harvesting and mar- 

 keting of the crop have proved to be public benefactors. 



To such magnitude has the cultivation of the fruit in 

 south-eastern New England grown, that the crop harvested 

 this year is estimated at 225,000 barrels, while the crop of 

 New Jersey and the entire west is only estimated at 115,000 

 barrels. The New England crop alone returns to its grow- 

 ers, and those who are employed in the harvesting and 

 shipping of the fruit, over $1,200,000. While the yield in 

 individual cases is ofttimes very large, the average yield is 

 probably not over 25 or 30 barrels per acre per year. From 

 a lot of 1*4 acres there have been harvested during the last 

 thirteen years 924 barrels, or an average of about 56 barrels 

 per acre per year. From another lot of 8 acres there have 

 been gathered during the last ten years 2,395 barrels, or an 

 average of about 30 barrels per acre. The past season, from 

 a lot of less than 140 rods I have seen 148 barrels of fruit 

 harvested, but such yields as this are not common. 



The south-eastern portion of New England is especially 

 well adapted to the crop, because frosts in that section sel- 

 dom occur of sufficient severity to injure the berries before 

 October 1, and many seasons not earlier than October 15. 

 The land selected should have a peat or muck bottom, a 

 site covered with trees or bushes being preferable to a grass- 

 growing turf. The poorer the soil about this swamp, the 

 better ; a very light, sandy soil, upon a sub-soil of coarse 

 sand rising abruptly from the edge of the swamp, should be 

 selected. A careful survey should be made, to ascertain if 

 the water level can be lowered from one and one-half to 

 two feet below the surface ; if this cannot be done, the 

 swamp is not desirable for the cultivation of the fruit. 



If a natural reservoir is not at hand, care should be taken 

 to secure one above the level of the swamp, if possible, that 

 the bog may be flooded during the winter season to protect 

 from severe freezing, and during the spring and fall to de- 

 stroy insects, of which we shall speak later. If a reservoir 

 <annot be secured above the level of the land to be worked, 

 ofttimes a near-by lake or large pond may be drawn upon ; 

 and, if below the level of the lot to be planted, an engine 



