THE CBANBBERT. 187 



lengths of about two incites, and sow these pieces broadcast over 

 the ground. These are then well harrowed in, when they soon 

 root, spring up, and speedily cover the ground. Others plant in 

 drills, but the method pursued is of little consequence if the 

 ground has been so thoroughly prepared before planting that 

 there will be but few weeds to contend against. If the ground 

 is likely to be full of weeds and grasses, it will be necessary to 

 plant the vines ia such a way that they may be thoroughly 

 weeded out, for the Cranberry is not able during the first years 

 to choke them, but on the other hand is in great danger of being 

 choked by them. 



The cultivation is confined chiefly to the three years imme- 

 diately after planting, and consists in keeping all grass and weeds 

 from getting a foothold. The best method of doing this is not 

 by hoeing, but by pulling the grass and weeds up with the hand, 

 loosening the ground if necessary with a digging fork, so that 

 the roots of the weeds may be drawn out entire. After the third 

 summer, the vines should have so fully covered the ground as to 

 choke out all grass and weeds and require but little attention. 



In selecting plants to set, care must be taken to procure fruit- 

 ful plants, for there are plants which are very fine-looking and 

 vigorous, but which yield little or no fruit. In gathering plants 

 from our marshes, some attention must be paid to this matter, by 

 noting during the previous autumn those which are fruitful, or 

 labor and time wiU be both lost and great diflappointment follow. 



The varieties of the Cranberry seem to be quite numerous, 

 differing chiefly in si^e and shape of berry. There seem to be 

 three tolerably well defined sorts, known as the Cherry, the Bugle 

 and the Bell Cranberries, which are readily recognized by the 

 form of the fruit, but beyond this difference in form there seems 

 to be nothing to distinguish one from the other. As long ago 

 as in 1856 a letter was published from Professor F. Shepherd, of 

 Western Eeserve CoUege, Ohio, in which he mentions a variety 

 of Cranberry which he saw growing on the upland in great 

 luantities in various parts of British America, particularly on 



