1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



159 



ject of letting the male vines run higlicr, is that the 

 pollen may be distributed over the yard. The 

 twine is tied to the outer stakes only, and is wound 

 once about the others. 



In the above extract, a method is described 

 by which a large part of the cost of poles may 

 be saved, Avhich, if found to work well, will do 

 away with one of the most serious difficulties 

 in the business. Yours, &c. J. R. 



Concord, Mass., Feb., 18G7. 



CRANBERRY CUTiTURE. 

 The following observations by Nathan 

 Briggs, in the Barnstable Patriot, will be 

 found to answer most of the inquiries which 

 have recently been made of us in regard to the 

 cultivation of this fruit. 



The Choice of Location. — First, cranberries 

 will grow on high, moist land, and sometimes 

 produce well, but their proper place is low and 

 springy, or wet land. The best place, however, 

 is a peat-bog and swamp muck. 



Preparation of the Ground. — First, make 

 the surface of your ground as even as possible, 

 and nearly level, with a slight inclination to- 

 wards a drain, if you have one, in order that 

 it may be easily Howed, and no p; nds remain 

 after drawing off the water. This may be done 

 with any material. There should then be put 

 on this level surfiice, about four inches in thick- 

 ness of swamp muck or peat, which should be 

 again covered with about three inches in depth 

 of loose sand, free from grass or its fibres, and 

 also from clay or stones. It is not important 

 what the color or quality of the sand, if it be 

 not adhesive, and is free from roots and grass. 

 Clay is not good. 



I'ime of Planting. — From the first of April 

 to the middle of June — on wet ground, con- 

 tinuing through the summer to plant, if con- 

 venient, and as it is wished. In dry land those 

 planted in summer sometimes fail on account 

 of drought and heat. Those set late, lose a 

 year's growth, and may as well be set in spring, 

 if the land be not too wet. 



Manner of Planting. — The form of plant- 

 ing which has resulted in the most rapid ad- 

 vancement of growth and production, is to 

 scatter whole vines upon a mud or peat surface ; 

 then press them into the mud with your foot, 

 and scatter over them light sand, about one 

 inch in depth. Patches planted in this manner 

 seem to be a year ahead of those planted in 

 the ordinary way. The general plan, however, 

 is to set them in hills at eighteen inches apart. 

 Take a pointed stick, say lour inches in thick- 

 ness, through which at eight inches from the 

 point insert a gauge rod eighteen inches long, 

 which serves to govern the distance from one 

 hill to another. With this pointed stick punc- 

 ture the ground In imifbrm rows, insert into 

 these holes a small handful of vines, and press 

 the mud around and among them, spreading 

 them about as much as need be. 



Quality of Vines. — Vines should be pro- 

 cured from meadows which have borne well, 

 and of good fruit, as the best way of knowing 

 good bearers. There are several species, such 

 as egg-shaped, bell-shaped, and cherry-shaped. 

 The Ibrmer are most approved, and are said 

 to be four or five weeks earlier. 



Cultivation. — The cranberry needs little cul- 

 tivation. Having your land properly prepared 

 as before stated, and properly ditched, and 

 clear of roots and grass, it may require the first 

 year a little hoeing among the vines. After 

 the first year, it would be likely to do as much 

 injury as benefit, by disturbing the young fibres, 

 which are now thickly set. It is better after 

 this, to pluck the Aveeds by hand, put them in 

 a basket, and carry them otf. After the second 

 year, let them alone. The third year you will 

 get a fair crop, the fourth will j)! obably be the 

 best. It is not yet ascertained how many years 

 they may do well. Fair bearing is considered 

 one bushel to a rod ; there have been instances 

 of one barrel to the rod. Rushes, and bunches 

 of weeds and grass may at any time be cut out. 



Flowing. — Flowing is not absolutely neces- 

 sary. More than half the meadows which I 

 saw were not ilowable. If llowable, the water 

 may remain on all winter, and let oil" in March, 

 It should be let on about the 20th to 2oth of 

 May, and again the 1st of June, for not exceed- 

 ing thirty-six hours ; after this it is not needful. 

 Blossoms are injured by the water remaining 

 on too long, the object of which is to destroy 

 the insects. After the second llowing there is 

 little to fear from them. The grade of the 

 land and the ditching should be so arranged as 

 to easily Hood or clear the surface, and the 

 sides of your drains should slope to an angle 

 of foi-ty-five degrees or more, in order to their 

 permanence and utility ; the number, arrange- 

 ment and size being directed by good judgment. 



The Cental System. — After the first of 

 March, the Boards of Trade of the large grain 

 marts of the country have agreed to buy and 

 sell grain by the 100 lbs. The Bural Neto 

 Yorker gives the following rule by Avhich buyer 

 and seller can make their own calculations : — 



The standard weight of wheat per bushel is 

 60 lbs. ; Corn and Rye, 56 lbs. ; Barley, 48 

 lbs. ; Oats, 32 lbs. The price per bushel be- 

 ing given, to find the price per cental multiply 

 the price per bushel by 100 and divide by the 

 number of pounds in the bushel. For in- 

 stance : — At $1.50 per bushel for wheat, what 

 is the price per cental? — loOX 100:=lo,000-f- 

 G0^$2.50, which is the price per cental. 

 Again : The price per cental being given, to 

 find the price per bushel nudtiply the price per 

 cental by the number of pounds in the Inishel 

 and divide by 100. Example : At $2.50 per 

 cental, what is the price per bushel of GO lbs. ? 

 — 250X60=15,000-^100z=$1.50, the price 

 per bushel. 



