.^6 



The first summer after preparing the meadow as stated, 

 vines sprang up and grew considerably, on the lowest parts of 

 it. The second summer the vines increased and grew rapidly. 

 In the fall of that year I gathered about a half bushel of cran- 

 berries. In 1864 the vines blossomed full, and after the ber- 

 ries were set, gave promise of a fine crop ; but, an e^rly frost, 

 while , they were quite green, injured th^m ^o that I gathered 

 but about a bushel. 



In 1865 the vines had increased in some spots on the 

 meadow, so that they had almost killed out the grass, and in 

 the fall, when the berries were ripe, they lay so thick that 

 the vines were scarcely visible. I gathered twenty bushels of 

 cranberries, worth three and a half dollars per bushel. The 

 expense of gathering and marketing these berries was less 

 than ten dollars. This year there are but very few cranber- 

 ries in this section of country, though my vines are bearing 

 better than I have seen any others oil fresh meadow. The 

 crop is not yet gathered, but your Committee can see it on the 

 yines. 



The expense of draining this i^f^eadpw was nothing. The 

 peat taken from the ditch paid the expense. It cost me but 

 $5 to flow it. This was done by a small flood-gate at [the 

 bridge. I spread upon the ice in the winter of 1863 two 

 loads of yellow sand, which cost but $2.50, making the whole 

 amount that it has cost me to prepare the meadow, but $7.50. 

 I would here state that the vines on the spot upon which the 

 sand was spread were far more prolific last year than any 

 other vines upon the meadow. 



I have had experience in preparing several other pieces of 

 meadow in the same manner, for the cultivation of the cran- 

 berry, and in every case have been successful. I neither plant 

 vines nor sow the seed. Whenever any meadow adapted to 

 the cultivation of the cranberry is prepared in the manner 

 that I have prepared mine, vines will spring up and bear 

 spontaneously. 



One thing more I will state. This meadow was owned by 



