24 ESSEX SOCIETY. 



measure or wholly to resist the attacks of the disease. So far 

 as I can learn, my suggestion seems to be verified. 



It is to be hoped that those cultivators who have observed 

 the prevalence of insects on their potato-vines this summer, will 

 favor the public with the results. We hope to have accounts 

 from all quarters where the insects have prevailed, of the con- 

 dition of the crop after digging. In some fields in this vicinity, 

 where I saw the black flea-beetle and some aphides on the po- 

 tato-vines, in August, I do not hear of any disease having been 

 found in the crop when dug. It was feared that the disease 

 would follow the cojuous rain that fell in September; but the 

 crop does not seem to have been affected thereby. I suspect 

 that when farmers make their returns, if they speak to the point 

 in full, the insect theory will be overthrown entirely. 



Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 6th. 1851. 



Cranberries. 



The committee of vegetable products also reported on this 

 subject as follows : — 



A beautiful specimen of the cultivated cranberry, was pre- 

 sented by J. S. Needham, of Danvers, Mr. Needham and his 

 father have given much attention to this subject, and demon- 

 strated that the very best cranberries may be raised on up- 

 land. We have tested their cranberries, and know this to be 

 so. We hope these gentlemen will favor the society with a 

 statement in detail, of their culture, as it is an object for which 

 liberal premiums have been offered for years, without securing 

 any statement aff'ording a distinct guide for the cultivation. 

 One thing has struck us as worthy of special notice, on viewing 

 Mr. N.'s bed of cranberries, that is, the dressing that he applies, 

 about the plants and between the rows ; which is pulverized 

 mud from the meadow, so as to completely cover the ground. 

 On inquiring the reason of this, we were told it was essential to 

 the perfect growth of the cranberry — that the mud operated like 

 a sponge to retain the moisture necessary to support the plant. 

 This being so, indicates very clearly, that Nature made no mis- 



