CULTIVATION OF CRANBERRIES. 85 



unrivalled American cranberry into France, England, and other 

 countries, would soon give a great and unfailing demand. 



The English already pay high prices for a scant supply of this 

 luxury. Only a few can use them freely yet ; but with a better 

 supply of the finest berries, at reasonable prices, they would be 

 more extensively called for each coming year. One cranberry 

 grower in the north part of our county told me lately that he 

 would pay half the expense of sending an agent to England, to 

 obtain information in regard to their markets, and make arrange- 

 ments for the disposal of cranberry crops to be sent directly from 

 the producers. 



Time for Overjioiving; the Grounds. — This is usually done 

 soon after cleaning the vines, or about the last of October in this 

 climate. The water should remain on all winter, of sufficient 

 depth to prevent its becoming frozen through to the ground. It 

 should be drawn off, just down to the tops of the vines, early in 

 May, or as soon as the weather has become mild. The vines 

 will then receive some benefit of sunlight and warmth, and the 

 water will still prevent injury by frost. The crop is often 

 greatly damaged, and occasionally almost wholly cut off by late 

 spring frosts, where water is not kept among the vines to protect 

 them, and prevent them from blossoming too early. In June, 

 after all danger of frost is past, the water must be drawn off 

 entirely. If the water is not too cold, it will be of great benefit 

 to raise it, in the dry season, so as to give moisture to the roots 

 of the vines. 



Overflowing in winter prevents, in a great degree, the attacks 

 of the cranberry worm — that pest which sometimes destroys a 

 large portion of the fruit. Mr. A. H. Leland, of Sherburne, 

 stated, in 1853, that he completely exterminated the vine 

 worm, the year previous, on vines that had been " yearly eaten 

 up by them since 1840," by keeping the vines under water 

 from " spring till the first of July." 



It may be well for me to add some notes on the varieties of 

 cranberries which are most extensively grown. They are all of 

 one species — the American, or Oxjjcoccus Macrocarpus. Only 

 one other species is known, I think, in this country ; and that 

 is a small upland cranberry, the Oxycocciis Palustris. It is 

 said to be of good quality, and it grows only on dry, poor soil. 

 It has not yet been tested by cultivation, but it is not probable 



