64 GRAIN-BERRY CULTURE. 



CHAPTER VII. 

 FLOODING. 



It is now admitted by all, that winter flooding is desira- 

 ble, and, in most cases, essential to successful cranberry 

 culture, although some plantations have been remunera- 

 tive without it. Flooding is necessary to insure perma- 

 nence to the vines, and protection against the ravages of 

 insects. 



Savannas are generally looked upon as being less per- 

 manent than swamp bottoms ; but we know of no instance 

 of vines " running out," even on savannas where winter 

 flooding has been resorted to ; on the contrary, worn out 

 meadows have been renewed by building dams about 

 them, and raising the water to cover the vines during 

 winter and early spring. 



Flooding not only prevents injury from the cold blasts 

 of winter, and destroys insects and their eggs, but the 

 water has also an important fertilizing effect, which is 

 particularly valuable if the plantation is- deficient in 

 muck. Streams flowing through cedar swamps, or rich 

 muck bottoms, become freighted with minute particles of 

 vegetable matter, which gradually settle to the bottom 

 of the pond, and form a fine top-dressing for the vines. 



Young plantations should not be flooded until the third 

 winter after planting, unless the vines are infested with 

 worms, or the ground is disposed to heave the roots out 

 while freezing and thawing, which it will assuredly do if 

 the soil is composed of clear muck, or a portion of the 

 oxide of iron. The object, in not covering young vines 

 with water, being to avoid any unnecessary packing of 

 the soil, and also to allow them to commence growing as 

 early as possible in the spring. 



Some difference of opinion exists as to the proper time 



