GRAPES I A SOUTHER A INDIANA. 



587 



gating extremes of drouth and moisture. It also pre- 

 vents the heaving of the vines in winter, and it aids in 

 subduing weeds. Every four or five years after the 

 bog begins to bear it is necessary to resand it, in order 

 to maintain productiveness. These subsequent appli- 

 cations are light, however, seldom more than a half 

 inch in depth. The Cape Cod bogs are fortunate in 

 their proximity to the sand. 



It was once the practice to plant cranberry vines in 

 "sods," or clumps, just as they are dug from the 

 swamps. There are several vital objections to this 

 operation, and it is now given up. It is expensive, the 

 vines are apt to be old and stunted, an even "stand" 

 can rarely be secured, and many pernicious weeds and 

 bushes are introduced. Cuttings are now used exclu- 

 sively. These are made from vigorous runners and are 

 six or eight inches in length. They are thrust obliquely 

 through the sand, about an inch and a half or two 

 inches of the tip being allowed to project They are 

 set in early spring, about 14 inches apart each way. In 

 two or three weeks they begin to grow, and in three or 

 four years a full crop is obtained. The subsequent 

 cultivation consists in keeping the bog clean. A small 

 force is employed during the summer months in pulling 

 weeds. Under ordinary conditions it costs from $300 

 to $500 per acre to fit and plant a bog. 



Opinions vary as to the best times and frequency of 

 flooding. There are those who contend that flooding is 

 not necessary, and it is a fact that there are some " dry 

 bogs" which are successful. It is no doubt true that the 

 value of flooding varies with conditions. It appears to 

 be generally held that bogs are longer lived and more 

 productive if judiciously flooded, and it is certainly true 

 that flooding is often the very best remedy for insect 

 attacks. The reasons for flooding, so far as I know. 



are five : (i) To protect the plants from heaving in the 

 winter ; (2) to avoid late spring and early fall frosts ; 

 (3) to drown out insects ; (4) to protect from drouth ; 

 (5) to guard against fire, which sometimes works sad 

 havoc in the muck. Mr. Makepeace prefers to flood 

 but once a year, unless insects appear in serious num- 

 bers . He lets on the water in December and draws it 

 off in A p r i 1 or 

 early in May. 

 Just enough water 

 is used to com- 

 pletely cover the 

 vines in all parts 

 of the bog. 



There are many 

 hindrances to 

 cranberry grow- 

 ing. The chief 

 are spring and 

 fall frosts, hail, 

 numerous insects 

 and some fungous diseases. During the summer sea- 

 son the bogs are not flooded, and insects must be 

 kept in check by insecticides. Tobacco water is com- 

 monly used. Fig. 8 illustrates a tobacco tank about 10 

 feet long. The liquid is applied with hand pumps from 

 the middle of May to late in June. It is supposed that 

 it has some value as a fertilizer also. 



Fifty barrels per acre is a good crop of cranberries, 

 yet 200 barrels have been produced. The grower 

 usually gets from $5 to $10 per barrel of 100 quarts. It 

 does not appear to be known now long a well-handled 

 bog will continue to be profitable, but Mr. Makepeace 

 assures me that he knows a bog 30 years old which is 

 still in good condition. L. H. Bailev. 



Fig. 8. Tobacco Tank. 



GRAPES IN SOUTHERN INDIANA. 



HE followiDg notes upon vari- 

 ^ eties of grapes and methods 

 of treatment were presented 

 recently at a regular meeting 

 to the Mitchell District Hor- 

 ticultural Society, in south- 

 ern Indiana, by Mr. J. P. 

 Applegate : 



A good market list of grapes for southern Indiana is 

 as follows ; Red — Brighton, Delaware, Woodruff Red, 

 to which may be added Agawam or Vergennes, or 

 both ; Black — Moore's Early, Worden, and for those 

 who want grapes without work, the reliable old Concord, 

 which will stand more neglect and bear better than any 

 other kind ; JV/iiif — Lady, Martha, Moore's Diamond, 

 Niagara and Pocklington. The prices of plants of some 

 of these kinds have been kept up, but by fall or next 

 spring one-year vines can be procured at reasonable 

 rates. For home use, taste, talent for cultivating, lo- 

 cation and length of pocketbook all enter into the mat- 



ter. The list given for market would also suit most 

 tastes for private use. 



On a city lot I have those named above, and in addi- 

 tion, Catawba, Lady Washington, Rebecca, Elvira, 

 Duchess, Prentiss, Salem, August Giant, Early Victor, 

 Empire State, Ives' Seedling, Hartford Prolific, Nor- 

 ton's Virginia, Jefferson and several seedlings. If plant- 

 ing again, however, I should eliminate all but two or 

 three kinds in the different colors. The Martha I name 

 as my favorite grape in flavor, with Pocklington next. 

 Moore's Diamond is a superb grape, and Norton's Vir- 

 ginia deserves a place, as it is very fine if left on the 

 vine as late as possible in the season to avoid freezing ; 

 in fact, a slight freeze improves its flavor, if eaten soon 

 afterwards. 



It is safer in this latitude to lay the vines down for 

 winter. It is a light job, and pays as well as almost 

 anything that can be done. Even if a vine is permitted 

 to grow and become stiff, it should be bent down until 

 all the young wood is on the ground. It may be neces- 

 sary in some cases to lav something on a vine to hold it 



