68 Down among the 'jerseys. 



amount of five thousand dollars, told me he had paid two thousand dollars 

 of it to these very people as wages for gathering his fruit, which was fully 

 ripened, and of excellent quality. A thousand dollars more were expended 

 in the necessary barrels, and for carting nine miles to the nearest railroad- 

 station ; thus leaving him a clear profit of two thousand dollars. This 

 is but one of the many cranberry-plantations in the neighborhood of 

 Pemberton, Burlington County ; but, as it has been longer in preparation 

 than some others, it affords a better evidence of what can be done by setting 

 the plants thickly in their native swamps, and then adding the advantages 

 of artificial irrigation. Thus the ravages of the worm may be prevented ; 

 and the late spring and early autumn frosts, which are sure to endanger 

 the crop, may be rendered harmless b\- thus flooding the whole for a brief 

 season. 



There are many advantages peculiar to this cranberry-farming. In the 

 first place, the best locations can be obtained — native swamps ready plant- 

 ed — at from two to five dollars per acre, whose value can be increased by 

 additional plants gathered from the neighboring bogs. A year or two will 

 be required to bring it into a really paying state ; and, after that, it will need 

 but little attention during three-fourths of the year : the plants take care of 

 themselves, and need no working or manuring. Then, when gathered and 

 assorted, there is no hurry about getting them to market ; for they will keep 

 well for half a year, and can be sold whenever the best prices are obtain- 

 able. For this reason, remote lands are entirely available for cranberries ; 

 while, for perishable fruits, it is of the first importance to be near a station, 

 so as to get them to the cities within a few hours after being gathered. 

 Another advantage is, that w^iile other plantations of strawberries, black- 

 berries, and raspberries, need occasionally to be ploughed under and re- 

 newed, the cranberry-bog, once planted, is done for a lifetime. There 

 seems to be no wearing-out, but rather a constant increase in vigor ; and the 

 older the plantation, the larger the yield. 



The owner of the swamp I have described has spent the largest part of 

 his life in these regions, and been a careful observer; and this is his opinion. 

 He has experimented largely in the business of cranberrj^-raising ; and the 

 hundred acres which he bought ten years ago for five dollars per acre, or 

 five hundred dollars for the whole, are now worth to him fifteen thousand 



