14 



MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 371 



with its tip compressed to a very narrow slit, helps greatly in driving the 

 piling l)y loosening the soil. 



The most experienced growers prefer the covered or trunk gate (Fig. 

 10). It is much stronger than the open gate (Fig. IIB) and rots less 

 when made of wood. A concrete bulkhead opening into piping (Fig. 11 A) 

 is advisable in some places. 



The outlet gate must be large enough to carry ofif the water of the heav- 

 iest rains and of flowages quickly. 



Sand 



Sand is used as a mulch before the vines are set and for resanding in 

 after years. Fine sand promotes the growth of moss and allows weeds 

 to thrive more than coarse sand. Sand screened from gravel is very 

 satisfactory. 



On Cape Cod, where sand 



abounds around the swamps 

 (Figs. 19B and 28), it usually 

 is carried on to the bog over 

 a line of planks by men with 

 special wheelbarrows that have 

 a pneumatic tire and balance 

 the load over the wheel (Fig. 

 12); but railroads with gasoline 

 locomotives and cars (Fig. 13) 

 are often used on large areas. 

 In Pacific County, Washing- 

 ton, where the sand underlies 

 the swamps and is not avail- 

 able elsewhere, growers pump 

 it up in water with a centrif- 

 ugal pump aii<l send it through 

 pijiing, in some cases over 

 half a mile. 



The early bog makers on 

 the Cape put on 5 or 6 inches 

 of sand before planting. Some 

 still do this, but the more ex- 

 perienced use only 3 or 4 

 th this smaller amount, the bog getting 

 ng sooner. Small stones in this sand do 



Fig. 

 Wheelbarrow Used 



in Sanding Bogs 



ling full bear 



sanding rim may be made around the margin when the bog is built 

 • ui)laiid is mostly sand. This makes a good roadway and gives 

 er iiauls for resanding in after years than do scattered sand holes. 

 e sand heli)s check weeds and moss; it gives the cranberry roots a 

 mi to grow in \vl:icli can be drained and aerated far better than peat, 

 iiiiotiiig tjieir growth; it serves as a nndch and so ameliorates drouth; 

 t gives out heat at night so as to afford some protection from frost. 

 Its pH is about 4..S on most bogs in this State. 

 Varieties 

 Earlv I'dack and Howes are the varieties most grown on the Cape, to- 



A 

 if til 

 short 



Th 



and 



