350 Cranberries. — The Sympathy of Birds. — Insect Slavery. Vol. XI. 



up the mixture into small loaves or round 

 cakes one and a half inches thick, and bake 

 in a brisk oven. 



Cranberries. 



Considerable interest has within a few years been 

 manifested in our vicinity, in relation to the propaga- 

 tion of the Cranberry on upland soils. We do not 

 learn that much success has attended the attempts 

 which may have been made. It would rather seem 

 that a naturally moist or boggy soil is best adapted to 

 its growth. Could it be readily cultivated, its deli 

 ciousness and beauty as a fruit, would always com- 

 mand for it a high price, and make it a profitable crop. 

 —Ed. 



The cultivation of the cranberry contin- 

 ues to excite attention. Those who have 

 engaged in it have generally been success- 

 ful, and many vines will be set the present 

 spring. 



It has generally been thought that there 

 is but one variety of the American bog cran 

 berry. This is a mistake; there are several, 

 differing in form, size and colour from each 

 other. The large roundish, deep red berries 

 are esteemed the best. 



In its native state, the cranberry is found 

 growing on the low borders of ponds and 

 streams, in swampy grounds, in damp sands, 

 and in shallow ponds and bogs. 



It is most productive on soils composed 

 almost wholly of silicious sand, overflowed 

 with water in the winter and spring, and 

 which continue damp through the season. 



Vines set in peat bogs are not productive 

 if at any time during the summer months 

 the surface of the bog becomes dry and hard ; 

 but when the surface of the bog is covered 

 with sand, and there is an abundant supply 

 of water during the year, they are produc- 

 tive. 



The cranberry is the only cultivated fruit 

 not benefited by the application of manures. 

 In deep mossy bogs it is frequently found 

 growing in situations where its roots do not 

 touch the soil. It is a plant that derives its 

 support almost wholly from the atmosphere 

 and water, and therefore it is, that it flour- 

 ishes best in sand and vegetable matter that 

 is not entirely decomposed. 



The spring of the year is the best season 

 for transplanting cranberry vines. If set in 

 the fall, they are frequently hove out of the 

 ground by the frost, and have to be re-set 

 There is less danger of setting them too 

 deep than too shallow, and it is now const 

 dered the better mode to separate the vines 

 and plant them in drills, drawn about two 

 feet deep. 



It has been said that the cranberry, like 

 the native grape, will grow in wet or dry 



soils. We have seen a few cranberry vines 

 on uplands, but they produce but little fruit, 

 and that was generally wormy and poor. 

 We do not advise any to try the experiment 

 on a large scale. 



The best remedy for destroying the worm 

 which attacks the cranberry plant about the 

 time it is in blossom, is to scatter wood ashes 

 over the vines early in the morning, when 

 they are wet with dew. Fine salt and lime 

 are also said to be remedies. 



At the prices which the cranberry has sold 

 several years past, it is the most profitable 

 crop that can be cultivated. The year be- 

 fore last, one of our neighbours sold the pro- 

 duce of one square rod for $14. — Yarmouth 

 Register. 



The Sympathy of Birds. 



A FEW weeks ago, I discovered a wren 

 building its nest on the plate of the piazza, 

 and my curiosity induced me to observe its 

 tiny modus operandi. Elevating myself un- 

 til my head was within a few inches of its 

 nest; the litlle architect soon discovered 

 me, became frightened, flew away and com- 

 menced the cry of alarm, at which time I 

 did not see a single bird of any kind ; but in 

 less than five minutes there was on one tree 

 with the wren, no less than thirteen birds: 

 the red-bird, mocking-bird, wrens, robins, 

 blue-bird, cat-bird, sparrow, doves, thrush, 

 etc., all assembled and put up their cries of 

 anguish, wrath, distrust, and fear, and even 

 the dove modestly sat and mingled with them 

 her half conscious moan ! The domestic 

 fowls, as if aware of the general mourning, 

 joining in chorus with shrieking cries, with 

 the birds, continued about ten minutes. Af- 

 ter the apprehension of danger had to some 

 extent subsided, the mob quietly dispersed, 

 and joined in songs of exultation at their 

 deliverance from, as they supposed, immi- 

 nent danger. It is impossible to describe 

 the scene as it really was; the numerous 

 cries, all on a different key, the skipping 

 from branch to branch, and apparently hold- 

 ing consultation with each other, were to me 

 indescribably pleasing. I have never wit- 

 nessed such a striking manifestation of the 

 sympathy of birds before, and I have doubts 

 whether or not there is such another case on 

 record. — Methodist Protestant. 



Insect Slavery. 



The most remarkable fact connected with 

 the history of ants, is the propensity possess- 

 ed by certain species to kidnap the workers 

 of other species, and compel them to labour 

 for the benefit of the community, ihus using 



