CHAPTER IX. 



BLOSSOMINQ TIME PRECAUTIONS 

 REQUIRED. 



IN the winter, the cranberry vine appears of a dark 

 brownish green, and scarcely looks better than the 

 poverty grass which abounds in sandy regions. In 

 the spring, it begins to lose that peculiar color, ex- 

 changing it for a clear dark green. Then it is that 

 the uninitiated in the culture of cranberries begin to 

 anticipate something from the vines, which at least 

 will be pleasing to the eye, if not profitable to the 

 purse. The blossom of the cranberry makes its ap- 

 pearance in the latter part of June, and sometimes as 

 late as the first of July. The quantity of blossom 

 depends upon the quality of the vines, the suitability 

 of location, the adaptation of soil, and the season. 

 From the appearance of the vines at that time, the 

 cranberry grower begins to form some idea of the 

 crop he may possibly have. 



The flower of the cranberry is beautiful and deli- 

 cately formed. It seems as though it would be sus- 

 ceptible to injury from trifling causes. Its color is 

 that of a very pale pink, slightly tinged with purple ; 



(61) 



