No. 124.] 123 



off as it moderates. Sometimes, in the eastern States, the cranberries 

 are destroyed by a frost in September ; where water is convenient 

 and plenty, the meadow should be flowed on cold nights at this sea- 

 son, as well as in the spring. 



Previous to shipping cranberries, they should be run over a plat- 

 form slightly inclined. The rotten and bruised fruit will not run off, 

 but stick going down the platform, and are scraped off and thrown 

 away. The perfect fruit is then put into tight barrels and when 

 headed up filled with water, and in this manner they arrive in Eu- 

 rope, in perfect order, and have frequently sold in foreign ports at 

 twenty dollars per barrel. 



Rakes are now made for the express purpose of gathering cranber- 

 ries, and although these rakes tear the vines somewhat, yet the crop 

 is not diminished by raking ; on the contrary, it has been increasecl. 

 Some years ago, a gentleman in Massachusetts commenced raking his 

 little patch of one-fourth of an acre. The first year it produced 

 twelve bushels, the next eighteen, the third twenty-five, and so on 

 till his last harvest, when the crop amounted to sixty-five bushels. 

 This increase is easily accounted for by the method of gathering with 

 rakes — the pulling up a few of the vines loosens the ground, and al- 

 though not intended, yet in fact the raking acts as a partial cultiva- 

 tion. 



To promote the cultivation of this fruit, the American Institute is 

 making arrangements to supply horticulturists with plants early in 

 the spring, in either large or small quantities j and I would recom- 

 mend those wishing to purchase, in this vicinity, or New- York, to get 

 their supplies in this way. 



Raspberries. 



When a small bed is put out for family use, prepare the ground by 

 spading — if a field for market, plough and subsoil plough the land — en- 

 rich with decayed leaves or well rotted stable manure— but a good 

 compost is preferable, similar to the one described for setting out 

 fruit trees. 



Early in the spring, just as vegetation commences, strike out fur- 

 rovs with a plough, four feet apart, and set out the plants, ten inch- 

 es apart, in the furrows. Cultivate with a small harrow or cultiva- 

 tor, and thus keep the ground loose and free from weeds or grass. 

 Early each spring, cut out all the old wood. As a market fruit, there 

 is no variety of raspberries equal to the Red Antwerp. 



Strawberries. 



We never knew two persons who cultivated this fruit exactly alike. 

 If a small bed is put out, it should be done by setting out early in the 

 spring, or in September or October — single plants, eighteen inches 



