175 



ESSAY 



ON THE CULTIVATION OF CRANBERRIES. 



BY NATHAN PAGE, JR. 



The first thing necessary for a novice in the art of Cran- 

 berry growing, if he intends to engage in that business, is to 

 learn what has ah-eady been done by others. It is quite too 

 expensive for a man of ordinary means to attempt a new busi- 

 ness without first informing himself in regard to it. A 

 wealthy man can, if he chooses, proceed ignorantly, and bear, 

 without injury, the ill success that he is quite likely to meet 

 with. A poor man most certainly cannot afford such risks. 

 He needs to be reasonably sure of success — not a partial, but a 

 paying success. Most men desire good and profitable results 

 from their labors, whatever their necessities may be. 



One most excellent way to get information, is to visit the 

 grounds of other cultivators. To inexperienced persons I 

 would say : — You can learn in six days' time, spent with suc- 

 cessful cranberry growers of different places, many important 

 facts that it might cost you six years of experimenting to ob- 

 tain. You should see the different situations in which cran- 

 berries flourish, and the various soils on which they succeed, 

 that you may be able to judge intelligently of the value of your 

 own grounds for cranberry growing. You should see which, 

 of all cultivated vines, are the most hardy and prolific. You 

 should compare the qualities of different varieties, and learn 

 which is best, and which would be most profitable for growing 

 in the soil and situation at your command. But you should 

 particularly observe the various modes of cultivation, and note 

 the cost and the comparative success. If you would get the 

 most valuable information on any branch of agriculture, ask it 



