CRANBERllIES. 127 



by transplanting, do it in the fall. If by sowing seed or scattering 

 slips, do it in the spring ; and May is now supposed to be the best 

 time, although future experiment may yet prove it to be safe to do 

 either at an earlier period of the spring. The time for gathering 

 in fall, should be determined by the growth of the berry ; gather it 

 when full grown whether its color be changed or not, — do not wait 

 for it to become red ; if thus, you must risk the autumn frost or 

 rot. The experience of one of the committee is, that the earlier it 

 be gathered when full grown, the longer will it keep in good condi- 

 tion into the next year. If this shall prove to be correct, it is 

 worthy of consideration, and those having large beds under culture 

 will do a public service by promulgating their experience in this 

 respect. The mode of gathering is by picking or raking, — and 

 which is best depends upon the amount of labor at the disposal of 

 the grower, or extent of surface from which the gathering is to be 

 made. If from a small patch, picking by hand is the preferable 

 mode, and in all cases where practicable, as by this process the fruit 

 is not bruised. If from several acres, raking is the more econom- 

 ical mode, — saving time, which to the farmer is money, and possi- 

 bly securing the crop against an early frost. 



To young vines not strongly rooted, the use of the rake may be 

 injurious, and therefore in so using it care should be taken not to 

 disturb the roots. Where the vines are five years old or more and 

 strongly rooted, the rake may be usefully employed in removing 

 the grass and rushes from around the roots, and thus prevent their 

 choking the vines' growth. 



When gathered and secured from fall frosts, by whichever pro- 

 cess the gathering may have been performed, the fruit should be 

 well cleaned, and all leaves, stocks and rushes separated and culled 

 out, so as to leave the cranberry in a good marketable condition. 



The faciUties for raising the fruit in Essex county entitles this 

 subject to more attention from the Society. A long line of sea- 

 shore and numerous bogs and swamps, now lying in an unproductive 

 state, may be profitably converted into beds for its culture. A 

 stimulus is wanted ; and that your society can give by holding out 

 the usual encouragement to meritorious cultivators. 



In this report an attempt has been made to establish the follow- 

 ing propositions: — 



