No. 4.] CRANBERRY CULTURE. 395 



Early Black variety, a very heavy cropper, ripening about 

 September 1, and usually a fair keeper for a berry harvested 

 so early in the season. The Early Red is also a standard 

 earl}- berry. Later varieties include the Howe, Belle, 

 Bugle, Matthews, Batchelder, McEarland and Centennial. 

 The Howe is a standard fruit, and probably more largely 

 grown than any other late variety. 



The so-called late kinds are usually in condition to har- 

 vest by September 20, and are generally all gathered b}^ 

 October 10. As the market is then quite well supplied 

 with the early fruit, many of the late berries are gathered a 

 little green and placed in the storage-houses to color and 

 ripen. 



The harvesting was formerlv all done by hand, the fruit 

 being gathered by the fingers, then when ready to be packed 

 it was placed in long racks or screens, from which the de- 

 fective berries and dirt were all taken. This large amount 

 of hand labor made the harvesting very expensive, usually 

 from $3.50 to $4.50 per barrel. The section of bog to be 

 harvested is divided by lines placed from six to eight feet 

 apart, two workmen usually occupying the same row. 



There are now several patterns of scoops or picking ma- 

 chines used, the most common being a wooden box, with 

 round, wooden teeth, twelve inches long and a half inch in 

 diameter, projecting from the lower edge. A handle is at- 

 tached to each side of the larger scoops, and the implement, 

 which is used in both hands, will hold from ten to twenty 

 quarts. The smaller ones have one handle on the top, the 

 same being held in the right hand, and this will hold from 

 six to twelve quarts. The teeth are placed just far enough 

 apart to allow the vines to pass between them, while the 

 fruit is drawn into the scoop. In use these scoops are 

 plunged into the vines just below the fruit, then tipped up- 

 ward and forward, this motion clearing the teeth from the 

 vines and leaving the fruit within. 



Another machine which is largely used is known as the 

 "Lambert patent." This is smaller than the first described, 

 holding about two quarts. It has wire teeth, about six 

 inches long, for the lower side of the box, the top and sides 



