90 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



Some years ago, when natural cranberry bogs in New 

 Jersey were regarded as public property, even as the 

 huckleberry bushes are now, any one being allowed to 

 gather the fruit, the " cranberry scoop " was freely used. 

 This combed the berries off, and also pulled out laro;e 

 quantities of old vines and dead grasses, the removal of 

 which, it is said caused the bogs to yield more abund- 

 antly. 



The " cranberry rake " has been used in Massachusetts 

 for gathering berries from cultivated meadows, but it is 

 not destined to come into general use. Among young 

 vines it is damaging to the runners ; but old meadows are 

 evidently improved by its use, since many of the dead 

 vines are thereby removed. 



The rake does not injure the fruit by bruising when 

 handled carefully ; but its unprofitableness is owing prin- 

 cipally to its wastefulness, too much fruit being dropped 

 and trodden under foot. 



When berries are cheap, or difficulties arise in the way 

 of picking, some advise flooding the crop in the fall, and 

 leaving it to be gathered in the spring. But there are 

 objections to this plan ; for instance, if the meadow is 

 flooded early enough to save the fruit from frost, there is 

 danger of injuring the fruit-buds, and destroying the 

 hopes of a crop the ensuing year ; and if they are not 

 covered until late, the berries will be frosted, and of little 

 value in the market, besides being expensive to gather. 



Efforts have been made to perfect machinery for pick- 

 ing cranberries, but so far without success. 



