34 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



of the soil, but it is necessary that it circulate freely 

 through the ground ; as stagnant water is fatal to the 

 growth of the plant. Therefore, in choosing a location, 

 though everything else may be favorable, if you cannot 

 drain the ground at least one foot below the surface, re- 

 ject it at once. This drainage is required to enable the 

 water to pass readily through the soil, and avoid anything 

 like stagnation. 



On true " Cranberry ground," although the ditches may 

 be cut one or two feet deep, the soil rarely becomes dry 



5v 



Fig. 8. — SECTION OF MILL-POND. 



more than half an inch below the surface, and this is as it 

 should be. Water is essential, but it must he under con- 

 trol. 



Small living streams are quite valuable for the purposes 

 of winter flooding and summer irrigation; hence, they 

 should be duly considered in selecting the location. 



Uplands are always to be avoided, whether of alluvial 

 or drift formation, the objections to them being numerous; 

 for instance, the vines upon dry lands are short lived, 

 blossoms are blasted, and the fruit is dwarfed or badly 

 worm eaten, the ravages of fruit worm being greatest 

 upon dry soils ; of the fruit worm we will speak more 

 fully in the chapter devoted to " Enemies and Difficulties." 



