36 



thoroughly sprinkling the entire surface. Three or four applica- 

 tions are usually made between May first and July first. It is a 

 curious fact that some bogs are never troubled with this insect, 

 while upon others, only a few rods away, it has entirely destroyed 

 the crop. 



The fruit or berry worm, Mineola vaccinii, is also quite a serious 

 enemy, working upon the fruit only. To destroy this insect Paris 

 green or arsenate of lead is sometimes used, the spraying being 

 done just after the berries are set. 



The root worm, which often destroys quite large tracts, works 

 very similarly to the common red head white grub, that destroys 

 our grass roots, and is, I believe, of the same family. Flooding 

 the plantations to the level of the surface during August and Sep- 

 tember will usually check their depredations. 



Many bogs are inclined to produce an excessive growth of vines 

 which, in a few years, become brittle, and many of them die. To 

 renew these and produce a healthy growth of bearing shoots, thin- 

 ning or pruning is practised. The tool for this purpose is of about 

 the size and shape of a common, wooden, hand hay rake, having 

 a steel head, to which four or five knives for teeth are attached. 

 These knives or teeth are about three inches long and are set about 

 six inches apart in the head. The implement in use is drawn 

 toward you like a hay rake and in this way quite a portion of the 

 vines are cut away. 



If the vines have not been trimmed, and have made an excessive 

 growth, which is in places dead or very brittle, it is sometimes 

 advisable to burn over the bog during the late autumn. Burning 

 at this season does not affect the roots (if the ground is wet nearly 

 to the surface) , and a new growth of healthy vines may be expected, 

 which will usually fruit the second or third year after. An inch 

 or two of fresh sand spread among old vines will encourage a new 

 growth and add life to the plantation. This is best applied in the 

 late autumn, after the fruit is harvested, when the winter flooding 

 will settle it among the vines. If not done before the water is 

 frozen, if spread upon the ice it will drop into place when spring 

 comes. 



If the soil has a tendency to be hard and compact, and the vines 

 fail to make a healthy growth, a light dressing of commercial fer- 

 tilizer is sometimes used with very beneficial results ; one contain- 

 ing a large per cent of potash and phosphoric acid is to be used 

 rather than one high in nitrogen. An application of from 300 to 

 500 pounds per acre is usually sufficient. 



There are at present quite a number of varieties of cranberry 

 commonly grown, though three or four only produce seventy-five 



