312 
WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Making a difference in favor of tlie western grower of $12,- 
000 in the amount of capital required to establish the business, 
a sum sufficient to purchase a well stocked bearing marsh here, 
paying an annual income of fifty to one hundred per cent. 
But a more desirable investment would be in lands stocked or 
partially so, with vines in a bearing condition, for which there 
are opportunities, as large tracts are held by companies and in' 
dividuals, who are ready to sell portions of their lands to any 
who are prepared to improve them. Prices of such lands of 
course take a wide range, say from $5 to $100 per acre. Such 
an investment enables the owner to realize something annually, 
and furnishes vines for planting where needed. Until the last 
fall, but little has been done comparatively in transplanting 
the vines; from one to two hundred acres were then set, and 
the work will be continued this spring. The ground chosen 
for the purpose is open marsh, with a light growth of wire 
grass on it. This grass is considered no detriment to the growth 
of the vines; the distance apart is usually three feet, although, 
if planted closer they would sooner have full possession, yet 
the expense of course would be increased. The sod is 
punctured and one or more vines inserted and then pressed 
down with the foot; the growth is rapid, and it is seldom that 
one fails to grow. Often the vine bears a few berries the next 
season, they being of so hardy and vigorous habit, the fruit bud 
is not affected by transplanting. It requires three or four years 
before the vines are well established and a paying crop obtain¬ 
ed. After that time they soon take full possession of the land, 
and continue to bear for years without other labor than to thin 
them out occasionally, as the fruit is better colored where the 
sun can reach them. 
Although the cranberry has its enemies, which must be re¬ 
sisted and controlled, it has less than any other kind of fruit. 
The vine worm is the most formidable of all, but as yet has 
not been destructive where the land is well flowed, which ap¬ 
pears to effectually control them. It is only on occasional 
years that they appear, and then, about the time the vine is in 
