104 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



exacting in this regard than the cranberry, easily and successfully 

 grown on congenial soils, it is a failure under adverse conditions. 

 The successful cultivation has been practically limited to Massa- 

 chusetts, New Jersey, and Wisconsin, about two-thirds of the total 

 crop coming from Massachusetts and these grown almost exclu- 

 sively on Cape Cod, where the economic conditions seem to be 

 peculiarly adapted to this particular fruit. 



History. The first attempts at cultivation of cranberries in 

 this country were made on Cape Cod about the year 1816. The 

 general cultivation, however, does not date back further than the 

 year 1850. The development since that time has been rapid until 

 today there are in Massachusetts some 12,000 acres. 



Necessary conditions. In locating a cranberry bog the first 

 question, of course, is the soil, which should be of a peaty or alluvial 

 nature, the decomposition of which has not reached a stage which 

 will prevent the water percolating freely through it. The next 

 requisite is drainage, which should be ample to allow the surface 

 of the water to be kept at least two feet below the surface of the 

 bog under any and all conditions. There must be an abundant 

 water supply with the necessary reservoir privileges, providing 

 protection from frost and insects. This water is used also in the 

 proper development of the fruit itself. There must be an ample 

 supply of sand easily accessible. The bog should be so located 

 as to have a circulation of air and to be out of natural frost veins. 

 After selecting a swamp with these necessary conditions the first 

 step in preparation is: 



Clearing. Some of the swamps on Cape Cod are covered with 

 what is called brown brush, a swamp bush growing from two to 

 six feet high. Many of the swamps, however, are covered with a 

 heavy growth of pine, maple, and cedar trees, all of which must 

 be removed, both the trees and the stumps to at least six inches 

 below the finished grade of the bog. These trees are used for 

 wood or lumber. After which we come to the second step. 



Turfing. Which is removing all surface vegetation, cutting the 

 turf into squares and turning upside down. It sounds very easy, 

 but no part of bog building requires more skill and judgment, for 

 in this turf are the seeds, roots, and plants, which, if not properly 

 handled, will spring up for many years afterwards entailing a heavy 

 expense, as well as cause damage to the young bog. 



