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WHEREVER IT IS POSSIBLE COVER THE GROUND WITH SAND. 



Clean, coarse sand is best. If the soil is covered only two 

 inches in depth with sand, it will be of great service ; but 

 three or four inches deep would be still better. A thick layer 

 of sand will keep down most kinds of weeds, and prevent 

 grass from growing among the vines. Some men have made 

 cranberry culture profitable, where it recLuired the constant 

 labor of one man three or four months of the warm season to 

 keep half an acre of vines clear of weeds : but it is far better 

 to spend a month or two to prevent weeds from growing. 

 Cranberries have been sold at such high prices for a few years 

 past that almost every method of culture has been profitable. 

 Even the worst modes have paid fair dividends on the cost ; 

 but the best alone are to be recommended. Skilful culture may 

 yet make cranberry growing profitable, even if the fruit should 

 sell for something less than one dollar per bushel. Where no 

 sand can be obtained, gravel may be spread on the meadow 

 after the turf has been removed. The less loam the gravel 

 contains, the better. It should not be spread on in very great 

 quantities, for it is not so suitable as sand for the vines to grow 

 in. A thin layer of about an inch, is, in some cases, better 

 than more. 



THE BEST TIME TO SET THE VINES IS SPRING. 



Cultivators who have vines always at hand on their own 

 grounds, frequently plant them out when it is most convenient, 

 either in May and June, or September, October and November. 

 If set in autumn, which in many cases is most convenient, the 

 earlier it is done the better. Vines that are set in September 

 become well established before winter, and will throw out 

 most vigorous runners the next season. The vines should be 



SELECTED 



In autumn, while the fruit is on them. You may be certain, 

 then, of getting only fruitful vines. It is said that vines taken 

 up in autumn, and kept in a cellar till spring, have been plant- 



