FIEST GEOWEES. 23 



come to by many was, tliat tlie vine absolutely needed 

 a situation like tlie one described, and tben it would 

 do well enougb. They tried to imitate nature in tbis 

 respect and failed. They gave tbem too mucb water, 

 and drowned tbem. 



Tbe question of location was a source of trouble. 

 Some would plant in tbe swamp, and otbers in dry 

 situations. Some wovdd select a southerly aspect, and 

 otbers a northern one. There was no rule or experi- 

 ence to guide tbem in the commencement of forming a 

 yard, hence their difficulties and consequent failures. 



Then, soils was a source of perplexity to many, 

 "Would the cranberry do better in rich loamy soil, than 

 in any other? Most plants flourished in such earth ; 

 then, why not the vine ? It was tried, and the plants 

 run to vines, looked well and thrifty, and bore but 

 little fruit. Clay must be good for them. This was 

 also tested, but it caked, and the- plants in summer 

 were stunted, shrivelled, and burnt up. 



Peat was experimented with, and was found no 

 better than clay, (but we shall show when we come 

 to treat on soils, that this vegetable soil can be 

 so prepared as to be a rival to beach sand). "We 

 must not overlook the treatment to which the vines 

 were subjected in these early days of the cranberry 

 culture. They -were too frequently planted and left 

 to take care of themselves, and the wild grass — ^the 



