PRACTICAL PAPERS—CRANBERRY CULTIVATION. 191 
the vines would sooner have the ground, but the expense 
would of course be greater. 
Enemies. —The cranberry grower has more or less enemies 
to contend against, and unless they are overcome the loss of 
a whole or a part of the crop will be the consequence. The 
most formidable of these are the vine worm, the fruit worm 
and that pest of the marshes, the pale laurel, generally known 
as wild sage. The two former can be overcome comparatively 
easy, if the experience of the eastern and western growers is 
of any value, by early and late flooding of the vines ; this 
remedy has been found in almost every case effectual. But 
the laurel cannot be so readily controlled, as flooding suf¬ 
ficiently long to destroy it would also destroy the vines. The 
only known waj 7 s to effect its destruction is to mow it for 
several years, as often as it attains sufficient size, or to remove 
the turf to the depth of three inches, putting it in piles and 
when dry burn it. In appearance it resembles an enlarged 
cranberry vine and belongs to the same family of plants—the 
Heath family. I think but few cranberry growers are fully 
aware of the formidable nature of the laurel when it once 
obtains a foothold among the vines, it being a third or half 
larger in size, is as vigorous and hardy in its habits, as per¬ 
sistent in its growth, and always takes full possession of the 
/ 
land to the exclusion of every thing else. It propogates itself 
by pushing its roots under ground and sending up its 
branches at intervals of a few inches, on which the seed is 
produced. When the marsh is flooded these seed are carried 
to every part of it, and wherever deposited are sure to pro¬ 
duce new plants. The result is, that the land is readily 
stocked with it, and unless destroyed at sight, will soon have 
full possession. 
I would especially call the attention of cranberry growers to 
the necessity of commencing a war of extermination on this 
plant, as it is the worst enemy with which they will^have to 
contend ; and commence at once, before it has destroyed their 
vines. 
