REPORT OF CRANBERRY SUBSTATION FOR 1915. 43 



and beach plums (Primus viaritima Wang.). They ate black cherries 

 {Prunus serotina Ehrh.) very sparingly and the berries of Viburnum 

 cassinoides L. not at all. They would not feed in confinement on cran- 

 berry leaves. 



Bog Management. 



The cranberry investigations have now been carried on at the substation 

 for six years. Each j'^ear has added something to the knowledge of the 

 problems connected with the growing of this fruit. Many of the findings 

 taken by themselves may seem to have no practical significance, but a 

 stage in the work has now been reached in which the writer is beginning to 

 assemble results in the hope of coming to definite conclusions as to what 

 general changes in bog management, if any, are advisable. Certain ideas 

 in this connection have presented themselves during the past year, and 

 it seems best to discuss some of them in this report. It should be under- 

 stood, however, that these ideas are not advanced as methods that have 

 been proved to work to advantage. They are brought out here merely 

 for the consideration of Massachusetts growers and in the hope that some 

 will assist in testing them by trying them out on their own bogs. 



The interest of the cranberry grower is seldom confined to the control 

 of any one pest or to the solution of any other one problem of the industry 

 as a thing by itself. His main business is not fighting fruit worms, but 

 raising cranberries. The cost of resanding interests him less than the 

 annual net return from his crop. In dealing with the many difficulties 

 connected with the business, he must, if he is to succeed, keep clearly in 

 mind the fact that his main problem — the problem which ultimately will 

 command his every endeavor and around which all his minor interests 

 must center — is really this : How to make cranberry growing pay the 

 largest possible net return on the capital invested. 



The net return is what is left of the proceeds of the sale of the berries 

 after the cost of production and marketing has been taken out. With a 

 given amount of capital invested and a given acreage under cultivation, 

 this return may be increased either by a rise in the selling price of the fruit, 

 the cost of production and marketing being more or less fixed; or by a 

 lowering of the cost of production and marketing, the selling price being 

 comparatively fixed; or by an increase in the selling price accompanied 

 by a reduction in the cost of production and marketing. To enlarge upon 

 these self-evident facts would be superfluous. They are only a part of 

 the common experience in every walk of life. A man may "get ahead" 

 in the world either by the good fortune of an increased income or by 

 simplicity and economy in living. 



In its beginnings, the cranberry industry was in the position of a man 

 blessed with a large income, because cranberries commanded high prices 

 in the markets. Strict economy was not, therefore, absolutely essential 

 to success. During the last few years, however, prices have been com- 

 paratively low, and there seems to be no immediate prospect of their 



