HISTORY OF CULTIVATIOX. 



19 



tained in large quantities from its native soil, the dry and 

 barren sands of Cape Cod, and the Pines of South J ersey. 



CHAPTER n. 

 HISTORY OF CULTIVATION. 



Fifty years ago, one embarking extensively in the culti- 

 vation of the cranberry would have been comparable to a 

 craft putting to sea without chart or compass. Doubts 

 would have accompanied his progress, and the possibility 

 of profit resulting from his labors have been exceedingly 

 uncertain, for the reason that the wrong courses to be 

 pursued were far more numerous than the right ones. 

 Hence it was that the early cultivators ventured out 

 very cautiously, risking but little of their labor or capital 

 in the doubtful enterprise. 



Many failed, but failures, although unpleasant, are not 

 entirely Tvithout good results, and should be carefully 

 chronicled, to the end that others may learn wisdom, and 

 not fall into the same errors. 



Some were partially successful, and their names have 

 become connected with the business, although their 

 achievements have been far surpassed by men of whom 

 we have never heard ; yet they were comparatively suc- 

 cessful in their day, and they deserve our notice now, for 

 ha\T.ng laid the foundation of successful cultivation. 



These pioneers in the business were men of enterprise ; 

 for they not only encountered many difficulties in growing 

 the fruit, but were unable to sell it, when grown, for re- 

 munerative prices. Strange as it may appear, when the 

 supply of cranberries was very limited, and derived al- 

 most entirely from natural bogs, the price per bushel was 



