178 Lessons in Fruit Growing. 



after picking out the coarser stems, the parts suitable for 

 cuttings are cut into pieces 1 to 6 inches long. Sometimes 

 the stems are run through a feed cutter. The cuttings may 

 be planted in spring or early summer and in autumn. 

 They are sometimes planted in drills opened with the plow, 

 li to 3 feet apart, but often they are sown evenly over 

 the prepared surface of the marsh, which is preferablj^ cov- 

 ered with about an inch of water. Sometimes the cuttings 

 are pressed into the moist soil, but where the water layer 

 can be maintained, this is not necessary. 



2XZ. Care after planting:. Grass and weeds should be 

 kept out of the marsh until the vines are well matted. A 

 moist surface should be maintained, but ground water 

 should be kept 12 or 18 inches below the surface. Scatter- 

 ing vines are sometimes benefited by rolling the marsh. 

 Old vines may often be restored to vigor by mowing them 

 off in spring, though the first one or two crops thereafter 

 will be diminished. The plantation needs little attention 

 during the growing season, except to look after the water 

 supply and insect attacks. 



274, Flooding at certain times is necessary to insure per- 

 manence to the vines, and to protect from insects and frost. 

 It is accomplished by damming up the water, causing it to 

 rise in the ditches, and suitable dams should be provided 

 for this purpose. Bearing plantations should be flooded 

 when growth ceases in autumn, and should be kept cov- 

 ered with water until the following spring is so well ad- 

 vanced that danger from frost is no longer feared. Occa- 

 sionally the plants are flooded during the growiug season, 

 to destroy insects or prevent frost. Many cranberry marshes 

 have no facilities for flooding, but on such the crop is quite 

 uncertain. 



