No. 4.] CRANBERRY CULTURE. 441 



center of which a 3-foot trench should be dug to hardpan. This 

 trench runs lengthwise of the dike, and is filled with sand or gravel. 

 The width at the bottom of the dike depends upon the depth of water 

 to be carried in the pond or on the meadow at the time of flowage. 



When the dike is to be used as a drive or roadway, the height will 

 determine its width at the top. A dike 4 feet high, when constructed 

 for this purpose, should be 14 feet wide at the top, and at least 18 feet 

 wide at the base. No heavy team should be allowed to drive over it 

 for at least six months after it is built, and then the wagon should have 

 wide tires. 



A dike should be built amply strong to withstand the pressure of 

 water which it is intended to carry; and, if it is to be a reservoir dike, 

 sand should be dumped off its bank on the reservoir or water side, to 

 completely cover the turf. This sand covering will keep muskrats 

 from burrowing into the dike, as the sand fills in wherever they try to 

 burrow. The reservoir dike should be built at least 2 feet higher than 

 high-water mark, for strong winds will cause the water to wash and 

 slop against it. The outlet must be ample to admit of overflow in case 

 of heavy rains and melting snow. Pulling plank should be set at the 

 reservoir flume at the height water is to be carried. 



The outside of all dikes should be built up with turf cut 12 by 18 

 inches, and some 12 by 24 for binders. All turf should be laid longest 

 way crosswise on the dike, and all seams lapped, after the manner of 

 laying bricks. 



If the water is 6 feet deep at the flume, the dike should be not less 

 than 8 feet high, 18 feet wide at the base, and narrowed to 10 feet at 

 the top. This will allow 4 feet for the sloping of each side, which is 

 none too much, even when good, tough turf is used for its banks. 



When a dike crosses a meadow, no ditch should be dug nearer than 

 10 feet to its sides, else the great weight of the dike will crowd, and fill 

 up the ditch, causing the dike itself to slump and cave. A crushed 

 down dike is an eyesore, and little better than no dike for holding 

 back water. If the dike crosses soft land, such as muck or mud, it 

 should be spiled to hardpan lengthwise, in addition to the center filled 

 trench. A thoroughly built dike will pay in the long run. 



The flume through the dike must be carefully and strongly built. 

 Some are built with stone, others with plank; but we prefer the Port- 

 land cement flume, built with a bulkhead so water can be handled at 

 the top rather than from the bottom of the flume. An exiDerienced 

 man will be profitable to employ for this part of the work. 



The Reservoir. — A pond or reservoir at the head of a cranberry 

 meadow is of great value, to hold a reserve water supply for irrigation 

 purposes during the dry months of summer, and also to enable the 

 grower to flood his meadows when occasion re(juires. 



Harvesting. — The best method of harvesting or picking cranberries 

 is problematical, and must be determined by the individual grower. 



