ON VEGETABLE PRODUCTS. 73 



some measure explained. People have been heedless in plant- 

 ing their potatoes, both in the preparation of their land, their 

 manure, and their seed. Whereas proper attention to each of 

 these points, is absolutely necessary to ensure fair crops. As 

 the exhibition afforded no specimens of the potato rot, (about 

 which so much is said, and so little understood,) we do not 

 feel at liberty to enter upon the discussion of this topic ; hop- 

 ing never again to have occasion to notice it. 



A beautiful specimen of the cultivated cranberry, was 

 presented by Mr. J. S. Needham, of Danvers, for v/hich a 

 gratuity of seventy-five cents was awarded, as a compen- 

 sation, for the trouble of bringing it in. Mr. Needham, 

 and his father have given much attention to this subject, and 

 demonstrated that the very best of cranberries may be raised 

 on upland. We have tested their cranberries, and know this 

 to be so. We hope these gentlemen will favor the Society, 

 with a statement in detail of their culture; as it is an object 

 for which liberal premiums have been offered for years, with- 

 out securing any statement, affording a distinct guide for the 

 cultivation. One thing has struck us, as worthy of special no- 

 tice, on viewing Mr, N.'s bed of cranberries, that is, the dress- 

 ing that he applies, about the plants and between the rows ; 

 which is pulverized mud from the meadow, so as completely 

 to cover the ground. On inquiring the reason of this, we 

 were told, it was essential to the perfect growth of the cran- 

 berry — that the mud operated like a spunqe to retain the mois- 

 ture necessary to support the plant. This being so, indicates 

 very clearly, that Nature made no mistake, in growing cran- 

 berries on meadow land. And the question is, inasmuch as 

 meadow mud is indispensable to their growth, whether it is 

 better to grow the plants on the upland, and bring the mud 

 to them ; or to continue to grow them in the meadow, and 

 keep THE GRASSES clear from them. We would not speak un- 

 kindly of the UPLAND CULTURE of the cranberry — but if they 

 are to cost five dollars a bushel on the upland, and only half 

 THIS SUM on the meadow, we think the meadow will continue 

 to be preferred, by those who would pursue the business as a 

 self-sustaining culture. 



10 



