10 MASS. p:xperiment station bulletin 3; 



Fig. 



Jog Construction. 



Drainage 



A bog should be well drained during the growing season. Poor drain- 

 age favors weed growth and the rose-bloom disease and probably promotes 

 infestations of the black-headed fireworm and diseases which cause berries 

 to rot both on the bog and in storage. It also curtails the growth of 

 cranberry roots (Fig. 6). The land below the bog should go down 

 rapidly, so that the water may be drawn from the ditches quickly at any 

 time. 



A ditch should be cut entirely around the bog and other ditches dug 

 across it (Figs. 7A and C and 35B), dividing it into sections. The marginal 

 ditch prevents upland growths from working onto the bog, keeps many 

 crawling insects off, and is some protection from forest fires. It should 

 be 3 feet wide and 2 feet deep. 



If tlie drainage from the bog is good, the cross ditches are not important 

 unless the area is great or the bottom close or springy. They hasten the 

 distribution of water over the entire area in frost flooding and irrigating. 

 Without them, the water tends to pile up for a time at the end of the bog 

 where it is admitted. They usually should be 100 feet or more apart, and 

 are made about 2 feet wide at the top, 1 foot wide at the bottom, and 18 

 inclics deep. One of them (Fig. 7P)) sliould be wider tlian the otlicrs and 

 run lengthwise of the bog, in the patli of the- direct How from tlie water 

 supply to tlic- outlet, to hasten flooding and draining. No more ditches 

 should be made tiian are necessary because they interfere witii bog opera- 

 tions. Tile drains are useful if the bog is hard to drain. 



Grading 



litcliing may be used in grading. The grading 

 in tlie ditches. All bogs should be made level, 

 ickly and with little water, and no swamp that 



The soil tlirown out in 

 is done ]>y tiie water line 

 so thev mav be flooded fii 



