438 BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



There is a constantly increasing market for this fruit in the United 

 States, and, without doubt, in the near future cranberries will be 

 exported in larger quantities. The acidity of the fruit is especially 

 healthful, particularly for people living in warm climates. 



Land. — The land upon which the cranberry is cultivated is re- 

 claimed swamps and bogs, which have formerly been considered of but 

 little value. The right kind of soil is low, moist land, suitably drained, 

 consisting of peat, muck and mould, or decayed vegetation, classified 

 as alluvial deposit. Clay soil is unfit for the cranberry, and loam will 

 grow weeds too readily. Brown or brush bog is best, because less 

 labor is required to bring it to a state of cultivation, and this kind of 

 bog land is usually free from grass roots. If wooded swamp land is 

 used, trees should be cut at the roots, to tip out the stumps in felling, 

 which can be burned or removed from the bog. Boulders will do no 

 harm on a cranberry bog, but they take up room. 



We prefer a bog open to the sunshine and winds, to one surrounded 

 by high banks, as it is less liable to sun-scald and frost. 



Sand. — Clear, sharp sand or gravel, free from clay or loam, is re- 

 quired, with which to cover the bog before setting vines. 



Turfing. — After the removal of brush and trees, the surface of the 

 bog should be turfed by cutting, with a turf axe, into pieces 12 by 18 

 inches, and then with a pulling hook the turf should be turned upside 

 down. If there are bunches or tussocks they should be removed from 

 the bog, also all coarse roots of trees and brush; but the turf should 

 not be taken off, as it is the best feeder of the cranberry vine, being 

 superior to muck, for it is not so cold and wet, and is more spongy. 

 The turf should be cut with a turf hoe after it has been turned over, 

 and the high places should be levelled. 



Drainage. — Good drainage must be obtained, else during the grow- 

 ing season the berries will rot and sun-scald badly. To obtain good 

 drainage, the bog should be ditched in sections adapted to its size and 

 shape, six to twelve sections to the acre being the average. A shore 

 ditch should be cut entirely around the bog. This is needed for two 

 reasons: first, to cut off any underground water courses; and, second, 

 to prevent upland growth encroaching on the bog. If the bog is suffi- 

 ciently wide, a central ditch for the flow of water is desirable. The 

 central ditch should be 4 feet wide, and of sufficient depth to carry the 

 water from 12 to 18 inches below the surface of the bog. The shore 

 and cross ditches should be cut 3 feet wide, and of sufficient depth to 

 give proper drainage. After ditching, the sections should be graded 

 and slightly crowned at the center, and the material thrown out in 

 ditching may be used to fill up holes, and to make the proper levels. 



Water. — A good water supply is essential to the successful cultiva- 

 tion of the cranberry. The supply may be obtained from a pond, 

 reservoir or running brook, but must be under full control at all 

 seasons of the year. 



