FLOODING. 65 



for submerging cranberry meadows in the fall, some as- 

 serting that it may be done any time after picking the 

 fruit. This, however, is an error ; for the reason that the 

 vines are known to make a very considerable growth 

 after the first frost, and the berries should be gathered, if 

 possible, before frost. 



It is a safe rule to raise the water as soon as the tem- 

 perature becomes sufficiently low to stop vegetation. The 

 time will be indicated by the vines commencing to assume 

 a dull red appearance. 



The water should be kept up all winter, and not let off 

 until, say, the 20th of April or 1st of May in New Jersey, 

 and the 20th of May, or 1st of June, in the latitude of 

 Massachusetts. 



It is not safe to keep the water on savannas in New 

 Jersey later than the 1st of May, as it would retard the 

 growth, and render the blossoms and newly formed ber- 

 ries liable to be injured by the hot sun or drouths in the 

 latter part of June or first of July. 



Springy bottoms, which are always moist during the 

 dryest seasons, may safely be flooded until the 10th or 

 even the 15th of May without injury to the crop, be- 

 cause there will be sufficient moisture in the soil to perfect 

 all the late and small berries. 



Flooding to destroy insects, etc., is alluded to in the 

 chapter devoted to Enemies and Difficulties. 



In order to flood a meadow effectually, it is necessary 

 to construct a substantial dam across the lower end of 

 it, and, in doing this, no pains should be spared to render 

 the barrier reliable and permanent. 



It is false economy to carelessly throw up an embank- 

 ment, with turf or muck under it, leaving roots or brush 

 scattered through the sand, and expect it to hold a liquid 

 which is always striving to obey the one great law of its 

 nature; viz., to seek a level. Turf fences or muck will 

 not answer the purpose ; the only dam for a cranberry 



