224 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL NOTES. [Dec. 1894. 



the cranberry, Professor Agassiz says : " Never use the drift 

 formation in preparing cranberry grounds ; use silicious sand 

 that has been entirely separated from loam by the action of 

 water." Upon pure deep black peat, the cranberry grows faster 

 and more vigorously than on any other soil ; but after the 

 lirst year, the crop is poor or fails, and it is essential to have a 

 certain amount of sand or siliceous matter with the peat to 

 ensure continuously good crops. 



Silica hardens the wood, prevents the too vigorous growth of 

 vines, and discourages the growth of weeds. 



Cranberry plants or " vines," as they are termed in America, 

 will not thrive on land with a wet sub-soil. Drainage is there- 

 fore essential. At the same time, it is requisite to irrigate or 

 flood the land from the end of October to the first of May with 

 from 18 to 24 inches of water. Flooding prevents the vines 

 from the effects of winter frosts, and it must be carefully done 

 and before frost comes. When the water is drained off in May 

 the plants are soon covered with pink-white blossoms, and fruit 

 quickly appears. 



Sluices and flood-gates are requisite for flooding unless there 

 are natural facilities. It is stated that the continued success of 

 a cranberry plantation depends very greatly on the readiness 

 with which water can be admitted upon the surface or with- 

 drawn from it when spring-time arrives. 



While the water covering the cranberry vines is frozen, some 

 cultivators in America take the opportunity of carting sand and 

 spreading it on the ice, so that when the ice melts the sand is 

 distributed around the vines. 



On soils properly prepared by spreading sand on the peat the 

 ground is marked out in rows 14 inches apart. Two " vines " 

 to form a stock are put 14 inches apart in each row and pressed 

 into the ground. The smallest pieces from the " vines " will grow, 

 and sometimes the vines are cut into pieces about an inch long 

 and sown broadcast upon the prepared ground and harrowed in 

 like corn. 



Ordinary lengths of vine are spread evenly over the ground 

 and covered with an inch of sand. " The young shoots come 

 up through the sand as thick as wheat, making an excellent 

 growth, and the whole surface is covered with them." The 

 spring is the usual time for planting the vines in America. 



There are many kinds of cranberry in America. The best is 

 a standard early variety which ripens early in September, and a 

 standard late variety which ripens about a month later. 



Until the vines are well set it is necessary to keep the land 

 well drained. Myen if planted on ground well adapted to 

 their growth, if the meadow is allowed to remain very wet the 

 vines will make little or no growth. 



In America the hoe is rarely needed to eradicate weeds and 

 grass, and its use and that of a cultivator is injurious. Weeds, 

 are best eradicated by hand-pulling. 



