148 



THE WESTERN POMOLOGIST. 



1871 



be susceptible of flooding with water. We have 

 seen the cranberry growing in New Hampshire on 

 low, moist land, overflowed only when the snow 

 was running ofl' in the spring, or on the occurrence 

 of a heavy rain. 



Probably the most reliable information upon 

 cranberry culture may be found in tlie following 

 extracts from a communication to the Wisconsin 

 State Hortieultural Society, by G. N. Smith, Secre- 

 tary of tlie Berlin Cranberry Growers' As.sociation. 



" The lands from which the cranberries marketed 

 at this point are gathered, are situated a few miles 

 to the west and north-west of us, and may be de- 

 scribed as a succession of marshes, or rather an ex- 

 tensive marsh, interspersed with islands of timber 

 land, varying in extent from hundreds to thousands 

 of acres. * * * * 



But a few years ago these mar.sh lands were con- 

 sidered almost worthless, with the exception of 

 small portions along the borders yielding grass 

 They were covered mostly with a thin growth of 

 wire grass, and small Tamarack, with occasional 

 patches of cranberry vines, and were so wet that 

 no animal dare venture far out on them, and in 

 some ])laces it was dangerous for man. Being a 

 portion of the swam)) lands donated to the State by 

 th(' general government, a small drainage fund was 

 created in the towns in which the Ihndslie, and con- 

 sequently some twelve or fifteen years ago, the 

 town of Aurorah commenced a ditch at the junc- 

 tion of this marsh with Pox river through lands 

 of which the late Edward Saekett of Chicago, acci- 

 dentally became the owner. The eft'ect of the dnun- 

 age was to produce a vigorous growth of cranberry 

 vines, and annual crops of fruit. This induced Mr. 

 Saekett to extend the ditches and build a dam for 

 flowage; and the result exceeded his most .sanguine 

 expectations, for he was enabled to gather largely 

 increased crops, and at the time of his death, which 

 occurred in the early winter of 1864, he was realiz- 

 ing a large annual income from his lands. 



There were others in the vicinity who .soon be- 

 gan to perceive that an investment iji the.«;e swamp 

 lands promised a large return for the needed capi- 

 tal ; and accordingly the lands were rapidly pur- 

 chased of the State — the towns were ecabled to ex- 

 tend the ditches, which, together with the improve- 

 ments made by the owners, has rendered this 

 branch of fruit culture of greater value, and far 

 more pi-ofltable than any in tlie State, the crop hav- 

 ing amonnted the past season to eleven thou.sand 

 barrels or thirty-three thousand bushels, and it has 

 realized the sum of not less than $130,000. To ob- 

 tain this amount from wheat, it would require, esti- 

 mating the yield at ten bushels per acre, and the 

 price at one didlar per busliel, twelve thousand 

 acres. * .» » * 



It is well understood by those most experienced 



that certain requisites are necessary to secure a vig- 

 orous growth of vines and annual crops. 



First, a deep soil of swamp muck combined with 

 sand, resting on a soil of sand or blue clay. 



Second, the land so situated as to be controlled 

 as to flowage and thorough drainage. 



That sanding the marsh from two to four inches 

 deep as practiced by Eastern cranberr}' growers is 

 not necessary on our marshes, has been fully dem- 

 onstrated for several years in the growth of the 

 vines and in quantity and .size of the berries. 



A thorough drainage of the marsh during the 

 warm season and more especially during August 

 and September, and flowing at least from one to two 

 feet in depth through the winter and spring months 

 seem to be the important requisites. The best 

 drained lauds produce the largest and deepest col- 

 ored fruit, while the flowing destroys the insects 

 and their germs, also weeds and grasses, and serves 

 as a protection to the vines. 



In planting the vines comparatively little was 

 done until last fall, when several hundred acres 

 were set, and this will be continued the coming 

 spring. No preparation of the land is necessary 

 on open marsh, with but little growth of wire grass 

 on it. The sod is punctured and one or more vines 

 inserted and pressed down with the foot, and it is 

 seldom a plant fails to grow, and they often produce 

 a few berries the season after setting, being of so 

 hardy and vigorous a habit that the fruit bud is not 

 afl'ected by removal. The third season a small crop 

 may be expected, and by the fifth or sixth year the 

 vines will have taken possession of the ground and 

 a pa)'ing crop may be expected. 



The difliculties cranberry growers have to con- 

 tend with are less than with almost any kind of 

 truit. Yet the cranberry has its enemies, and the)' 

 must be attended to. The worst of all is the insect 

 known as the Cranberry Worm. In appearance it 

 is almo.st identical with the leaf roller found on the 

 apple. The miller generally comes about the time 

 of the blo.ssoms, say from the middle of June to the 

 first of July, and lays its eggs in the top of the 

 young vines or that part jiroduciug the fruit. In a 

 few days, more or les.s according to the temperature 

 of the air, the worm appears, and like all insects is 

 gifted with a voracious appetite and an ability to 

 indulge it. The consi (|uence is that if not checked, 

 the vine is rapidly stripped of its foliage, and the 

 crop destroyed. This worm or one similar works 

 somewhat on the berry, but thus far has not proved 

 very troublesome. The only known remedy for 

 the destruction of insects is the efl'ectual flooding of 

 the marshes, and it seems to be pretty sure. * 



The crop per acre exceeds in value any other 

 that can be raised. Several growers the past sea- 

 son have gathered full two hundred bushels per 

 acre, receiving therefor six hundred dollars. The 



