FIRST GROWERS. 23 



come to by many was, that the vine absolutely needed 

 a situation like the one described, and then it would 

 do well enough. They tried to imitate nature in this 

 respect and failed. They gave them too much water, 

 and drowned them. 



The question of location was a source of trouble. 

 Some would plant in the swamp, and others in dry 

 situations. Some would select a southerly aspect, and 

 others a northern one. There was no rule or experi- 

 ence to guide them in the commencement of forming a 

 yard, hence their difficulties and consequent failures. 



Then, soils was a source of perplexity to many. 

 Would the cranberry do better in rich loamy soil, than 

 in any other? Most plants flourished in such earth ; 

 then, why not the vine? It was tried, and the plants 

 run to vines, looked well and thrifty, and bore but 

 little fruit. Clay must be good for them. This was 

 also tested, but it caked, and the plants in summer 

 were stunted, shrivelled, and burnt up. 



Peat was experimented with, and was found no 

 better than clay, (but we shall show when we come 

 to treat on soils, that this vegetable soil can 'be 

 so prepared as to be a rival to beach sand). We 

 must not overlook the treatment to which the vines 

 were subjected in these early days of the cranberry 

 culture. They were too frequently planted and left 

 to take care of themselves, and the wild grass the 



