268 BUSH FRUITS IN THE HOME GARDEN 



A good plan is to have a dam holding a reservoir of water located 

 a little above the level of the bog. The bog must be bordered by a 

 bank of clay or solid earth to hold water when it is flooded. At 

 any time desired the water from the reservoir and stream supply is 

 turned on the bog and held any length of time needed. 



Propagation and Planting. — The cranberry is increased from 

 cuttings of the stems or roots, usually the stems. Mow the stems 

 ten to fifteen inches long and gather them into baskets or ventilated 

 barrels to transport to the new bog. 



Mark off the sanded bog with rows of shallow furrows fifteen to 

 eighteen inches apart. Cuttings may be dropped by hand along 

 these furrows, or they may be gathered in bunches of five to ten, 

 and these placed about one foot apart. The cuttings are then 

 pressed into the soil with a broad, wedge-shaped dibber made like a 

 spade, so that a man can put his weight upon it. Heavy wheels 

 are sometimes devised for pressing down two rows of cuttings at 

 once. The furrows are then filled by raking in the sand, and the 

 whole bog is then rolled with a heavy field roller. 



After planting all the weeds and grass should be kept out and 

 the cranberries given undisputed possession of the soil. During 

 the first two years at least, the area should be kept comparatively 

 dry at the surface, although it is best to keep the water level within 

 four to six inches of the surface. 



Each season it is necessary to go over the bog and pull out all 

 large weeds and any tall grass which may appear. The vines will 

 tend to keep out the weeds and grass after first year or two. 



Gathering the berries is done by hand or by machines. They 

 are picked in "measures" holding six to twelve quarts. From 

 these they are poured into storage boxes, and kept from freezing in 

 cellars until used or sold. 



They are screened, fanned, and otherwise picked over in the 

 winter before going to market. They are sold in bulk from barrels 

 or in quart boxes. 



Uses. — Cranberry sauce with turkey is a popular American dish. 

 The fruit makes nice jell. The berries keep easily and do not need 

 to be canned. Or they may be canned in cold, sterilized water, 

 and will keep without cooking for a long time. 



