FIRST GROWERS. 21 



found in tlie United States, attention was drawn to tliis 

 fruit some forty years ago. It was found in a low, 

 swampy place. The proprietor began to bestow a 

 little care upon the vine ; by doing so, he perceived 

 that the fruit improved in flavor, color, and size ; but 

 still, he was not properly alive to all the advantages 

 connected with the berry, and hence the vine would in 

 some measure suffer for the want of care and attention. 

 A boy whose father owned a swamp in which the 

 cranberry flourished, removed some of the vines, and 

 set them out carelessly by a pond. In doing this, he 

 was derided and plainly told that they would not 

 come to anything. But after all they did flourish and 

 do well, and thus a little was gained by this simple 

 effort. It proved that the cranberry was susceptible 

 of great improvement. 



It is about fifteen years ago since the minds of many 

 were awakened to this subject, and since several de- 

 termined to make a trial to cultivate the cranberry. 

 Those who first undertook this were largely bespat- 

 tered with unpleasant remarks, and told that it would 

 be a useless attempt. Five years elapsed, and they 

 had established this fact, that the cranberry could be 

 cultivated and made useful to the farmer as a market- 

 able commodity. About ten years since, those who 

 owned patches of swampy land, began to turn their 

 attention to them, and resolved upon making the cran- 



