CRANBERRY 839 
planted, with proper care, it will last for 
a long time. Bogs are known to be 40 
years old. In the last few years there 
have been many improvements in the 
methods of building the bogs. It has 
been proven that by using the best meth- 
ods the profits have been greatly in- 
creased. In Wisconsin on three classes 
of bogs, semi-wild, semi-clean and clean or 
of modern construction the average an- 
nual yields in barrels per acre were re- 
spectively 23, 46 and 94. The methods of 
construction will vary with the conditions. 
Clearing and Preparing the Surface 
A raw cranberry marsh is most al- 
ways covered with a_ growth of trees, 
brush, or wild grass, which will have to 
be cleared and removed either by hand or 
machinery, depending on the character 
and amount of clearing. 
After the land is cleared it is neces- 
sary to bring it to a uniform surface and 
to kill or destroy the surface vegetation. 
This is frequently done by scalping or re- 
moving from three to six or eight inches 
from the surface of the bog depending 
on the character of the vegetation. Scalp- 
ing is done by hand or by cutters or plows 
drawn by horses or engines. In some 
cases instead of removing the scalpings 
they are turned over and left on the bog. 
Another method is to plow and cultivate 
the land sufficiently to kill the undesir- 
able vegetation. The scalpings are re- 
moved from the bog by wheelbarrows or 
small cars. In some cases they can be 
piled and burned. After the bog is scalped 
it should be graded to a uniform surface. 
Sanding 
Care should be exercised in sanding the 
bog. The sand should be put on to a 
uniform depth of not less than three 
inches; some growers advise putting it on 
thicker in deep peat than in shallow peat. 
There are several methods used in sand- 
ing a bog. In some localities where the 
winters are severe the sand is hauled on 
to the bog with sleds and spread over the 
ice and when the ice melts the sand set- 
tles uniformly over the bog. Where the 
Sand is located close to the bog it is fre- 
quently put on with wheelbarrows and 
often small cars are used with a portable 
track. Another method used and probably 
the cheapest where the conditions are 
favorable, is to pump the sand on with 
water and distribute’ it over the bog 
through wooden pipe. There is some ques- 
tion if the sand can be put on as clean by 
pumping as by putting it on dry. 
Ditches, Dams, Dikes, Gates, Ete. 
Ditches are required to drain the land 
in order that it can be worked, and later 
for the purpose of handling the water for 
irrigating, flooding and drainage. The 
Same ditches can be used for all purposes 
to a great extent. The size and location 
of the ditches will depend on the amount 
of water to be handled. They should be 
of sufficient size to flood and drain the 
bogs within a few hours. The ditches 
should be at least three feet deep and in 
Fig. 2. 
Planting of Prolifics from Wisconsin on Newly Constructed Bogs. 
Indicates 
also method of ditching. 
