80 CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



canoe." This water-cure was fully tested near Medford, a 

 few years since, where an eye witness avers that he saw 

 one specimen out beyond his depth actively engaged in 

 teaching diving-school. 



It is believed that deep flooding in winter, and clean cul- 

 ture, are the surest means of avoiding the depredations of 

 both crickets and grasshoppers. 



MUSK-RATS AND MICE. 



Among the enemies of cranberry culturists may be 

 numbered musk-rats and mice. The former sometimes in- 

 jure the crop by crawling over the blossoms and fruit, 

 and also in boring through dams and letting off the water 

 at unseasonable times. 



The latter are addicted to the wasteful habit of eating 

 the seeds, from the berries, both before and after picking, 

 and leaving the remainder entirely worthless. Whole 

 handfuls, treated in this way, may be found at times 

 during picking season. The only remedy for these evils 

 seems to be to trap the vermin. 



FROSTS. 



Frosts occurring late in spring, or early in autumn, are 

 seriously apprehended by the grower. If they come 

 towards the last of May, or first of June, the fruit-buds 

 are liable to be destroyed ; and if during September, or 

 while the berries are white and unripe, the effect is to 

 soften and spoil them. 



The damaging results of spring frosts are avoided by 

 flooding sufficiently late to destroy the vine worm. This 

 retards the growth of the vines, and buds are not formed 

 until after the danger is past. Care must be taken, how- 

 ever, not to retard the crop too much, lest it be overtaken 

 by frost in the fall. 



