258 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



ments of the plant. In a wet season, the vines may grow well 

 and throw out vigorous runners, thus deceiving the cultivator, 

 but let a severe drought come, and they will suffer and die. 

 In a moist climate, like that of England, the case might be 

 different ; but throughout our country, the profitable cultiva- 

 tion of the cranberry, without moisture, is impracticable. 



The art of raising the cranberry consists in the selection of 

 damp, barren sands, (though not necessary,) flowed in winter; 

 if the soil be poor, damp, and loose, the surface is speedily 

 covered by the vines, and little trouble or labor is experienced 

 in subduing the weeds and grass. If the soil be rich, the weeds 

 and grass will obtain the mastery, which can only be obviated 

 by an amount of expense and attention inadequate to the 

 returns. 



Varieties. — Three kinds may be enumerated — the Bell, as it 

 is generally called, is the best for transplanting on loamy soils* 

 In its wild state it is often found on the edge of cranberry 

 bogs, working its way towards the upland. In form, the fruit 

 is globular, and larger than the other varieties ; I think it a 

 more constant bearer, and on light soils it ripens ten days 

 earlier than on the bogs. The next kind is the pear-shaped 

 variety, a shy bearer, and, with me, unproductive on the up- 

 land. It is rather more erect in growth than the Bell variety, 

 and the general size of the fruit is smaller. 



The small European variety comes next. Its identity was 

 discovered by Mr. Oakes, on Nantucket. It is not found so 

 generally as the other two varieties ; the berries are much 

 smaller, but ripen better on boggy meadows than either of the 

 other kinds. In production, it is a constant bearer, but the 

 size of the berry would not commend itself for general culti- 

 vation."^ 



BAENSTABLE. 



Report of the Committee. 



Cranberries have not succeeded so well in this county, this 

 year, as in some former years, particularly the last ; but as 



* This is a distinct species, and not a variety of the American cranberry. — Ed. 



