56 BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN MEMOIRS 



April 7, 1789, shows: "Voted and agreed on by major vote, on the day 

 above-said, that if any person or persons shall and doth rake, pick or any 

 other way gather any cranberries on any of the lands or meadows belonging 

 to the proprietors of Montauk or the town commons at any time before the 

 second Tuesday in October next, ensuing at sunrise, he, she, or they so 

 offending shall forfeit and pay the sum of eight shillings, current money of 

 New-York, per bushel, to be recovered before any Justice of the Peace in 

 and for the county of Suffolk." 



There are, of course, many commercial cranberry bogs on Long Island, 

 notably in the region between Manorville and Riverhead that are larger 

 than any at Montauk. But as wild growths, the Montauk bogs are the 

 most extensive. 



In this region there is a curious relic of introduction in a large grove of 

 Ailanthus trees at the southeastern edge of Reed pond. It comprises at 

 least three acres and the trees are vigorous. Borings from their trunks 

 indicate approximately even age which appears to average about sixty- 

 five years. 



