108 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



breed, bred by the late J. P. Gushing, is now in use in this 

 herd. 



In September, some members of the committee, in company 

 with several other gentlemen, visited the cranberry meadows of 

 E. D. Miller, of Dorchester, the meadows being in Franklin. Dr. 

 M. has about twenty-five acres set more or less to cranberry vines, 

 part being of natural growth, and part having been planted. Of 

 the latter, there are ten or twelve acres. The vines were chiefly 

 planted in 1853, but did notreach their maximum production for 

 several years. To obtain security against the crop being injured 

 by the frost, one of the first steps taken was to form a reservoir for 

 water, by which the plantation could be flooded in a short time. 

 This has rendered the crop certain, there having been but one 

 failure from frost, and that arose from neglect to let on the water 

 during a cold night in spring. The water can be made to 

 cover the vines in an hour and a half. The crop this year, on 

 the cultivated plantation, was very large. Upwards of one 

 hundred people were engaged in picking, at the time of our 

 visit, and about three hundred bushels of fruit had been 

 gathered. The best portion of the plantation yielded four hun- 

 dred bushels to the acre. There seemed literally to be as many 

 berries as the ground and the vines could possibly produce. 

 They were large, dark-colored and heavy, — the quality being so 

 superior that an extra price had been offered for them. We 

 understand that the aggregate yield was 1,0")0 barrels, and that 

 they sold at an average of ^10 per barrel. We had no oppor- 

 tunity to obtain the particulars in regard to the cultivation of 

 this cranberry plantation, but we hope that Dr. M. will, on a 

 future occasion, furnish for the annals of the society, those 

 interesting and important facts. 



Of the farm of Walter H. Fisher, which, as previously stated, 

 was this year entered for the premium offered for the best-cul- 

 tivated farm, something has been said in former reports of the 

 committee. It has long been known as a well-managed farm. 

 The cardinal principles of Mr. F.'s management are evidently 

 order and neatness, and there can be no doubt that agricul- 

 tural operations cunducted on this basis, produce the greatest 

 results in proportion to the expense. This is strikingly exem- 

 plified by Mr. F.'s success. A prominent article in his farming 

 creed is, that he " cannot afford to raise weeds." On this point 



