292 HOKTICULTURAL MANUAL. 



full crop is obtained in three or four years. The cultiva- 

 tion is mainly in the way of pulling the weeds by hand. 

 The plant roots so readily that the runners cut up in a 

 straw cutter are often sown over the field, followed by 

 rolling to press them down. But it pays to plant rooted 

 cuttings, as a rule, as a full stand of plants soon gives 

 returns for the added expense. 



To start the plants the ditches are kept about half full 

 of water, which keeps the surface sand moist by capillary 

 attraction. As the plants are set early, late frosts at the 

 North often work damage to the growing points. Hence 

 flooding at night, when frost is suspected, is practised, 

 drawing it off the next morning. In the fall the plants 

 are more mature and are not easily injured by frosts. 

 Early in November the plantation is flooded and the water 

 remains until spring frosts are over. Sometimes late frosts 

 come when the fruit has set in Wisconsin. If this is 

 threatened the beds are again flooded, letting it off the 

 next morning to prevent scalding the berries. Floods 

 from rains or melted snow sometimes give trouble in 

 winter by lifting the ice and the plants with it where the 

 water is shallow. To prevent this the surplus water is 

 drawn off at the gates. 



Indeed, it is an unusual crop to cultivate, and its profit- 

 able management, including the picking and sale of the 

 fruit, only gives large profits to those who study the habits 

 of the plant and the evolution of its culture as practised 

 by successful growers. The large cranberry ( Vaccininm 

 macrocarpori) is now the main species grown. This is a 

 North American species, and as yet it is not cultivated in 

 other countries. 



In granitic soils, free from lime mainly, the Bell cran- 

 berry is often grown on sandy or sandy-loam soil, with a 

 coating of swamp mud or peat mixed in. Culture is given 



