106 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



sible its original characteristics. He has also facilities for flow- 

 ing his meadows, although he has not often resorted to them 

 except for winter flowage. 



The last and greatest of all his advantages is in the immunity 

 of his meadows from frosts. Situated as they are, immediately 

 upon the shore of Buzzard's Bay, he finds it safe to leave the 

 fruit upon the vines till fully ripe, whereby its flavor and its 

 keeping qualities are both greatly improved. What are called 

 " white frosts " injure only unripe berries. Where the fruit can 

 safely remain upon the vines till October, as it can here, it 

 acquires sufficient hardiness to bear exposure to such frosts with 

 a good degree of impunity. 



Mr. Hadley's experiments, if not fully answering his expecta- 

 tions, have been decidedly successful, and few cultivators have 

 more reasons for encouragement than he, or greater inducements 

 to perseverance. He says in his statement : — 



" I have about two acres of land inclosed. When I bought 

 it, about one-half was swamp, covered with alders, laurels, dog- 

 wood, water-bush, briers, &c. ; the other half was where the salt 

 water flowed at full tides ; where the square and two-ended 

 grass grew. I have expended on the above as. follows : — 



Land, ......... 



Diking, ........ 



Cutting and burning bushes, turfing, ditching and 

 grading, ........ 



Vines and setting, ....... 



Hoeing, ......... 



$275 60 



" About three-fourths of an acre of the above swamp land I 

 have entered for premium on cranberry meadow. Cost and 

 expenditures as follows : — 



Land, at the average, ...... 



Diking, at the average, . . . • . 



Cutting and burning bushes, ditching and sanding, . 



Vines and setting, ....... 



Hoeing, 



1164 62 



