SPIRIT OF THE MONTHLIES. 365 



in bending down the two lower branches in the form of a knee or 

 layer, four inches below the soil, leaving the extreme ends out of 

 the ground in a perpendicular position. The knee or bend must be 

 so short as to always crack the bark just below an eye. By this pro- 

 cess roots will soon form from the bended part, whicii will in a few 

 months be sufficient to support the trees. They may then be severed 

 from the parent scion, and transplanted to any other part of the nur- 

 sery. This mode of proceeding supersedes the necessity of grafting 

 ever afterwards, except wlien any other varieties are wanted, in 

 which case grafting may be done on trees produced in this way. 

 Trees propagated by layers are much more durable, and are not so 

 liable to defect as grafted ones. S. 8. Dimond. 



Meriden (New-Haaipshirc), February 2, 1845. 



[From the same.] 



CULTIVATION OF CRANBERRIES. 



In answer to the inquiries of a subscriber on this subject, we will 

 remark as we have often before, that the cultivation of this plant is 

 not yet reduced to any regular system. They come into some lands 

 and disappear in others unexpectedly and unaccountably, unless it 

 be owing to a rotation of crops by nature, as oaks succeed pines, 

 and the reverse. 



If the land be not naturally wet, it is best to prepare for flowing, 

 and there is sometimes an advantage in flowing very wet lands. 

 The water is a protection against severe cold in winter ; and by 

 flowing late in the spring, the blossoming may be retarded until the 

 frosty season has passed ; and if flowing can be efl"ecied rapidly, it 

 may be done any time in summer, when there are indications of a 

 frost. 



As to the preparation of the soil, if it be naturally too dry, mud 

 will improve its texture, by rendering it more retentive of moisture ; 

 and if the land be naturally wet, and the soil composed mostly of 

 mud or peat, sand will be a good manure. When land has been long 

 in grass, and cranberries have not grown, the cranberry plants would 

 be likely to displace the grasses, aided by the tendency of nature to 

 rotation ; but if the ground has been in cranberry vines, and they 

 have disappeared, the land should be ploughed, or in some way 

 inverted, burying the grass completely, and tolerably deep. 



In transplanting, take up shovelfuls of the soil at places about four 

 feet apart ; and place in the holes shovelfuls of earth taken from a 

 cranberry bog, with the vines therein, and they will soon run and 

 occupy the whole ground. 



