Part 3

A dam must be built at the lower end of the bog, in such a manner as seems necessary from the location and force of the water running through the main ditch. If the main ditch is a brook which carries a large amount of surplus water, the dam must be very strongly and thoroughly built; but if, on the other hand, it is simply a ditch filled by springs or small brooks found in the bog, a simple dam can be thrown up at slight cost; although care must be taken to make it strong enough, so that the high water in winter or spring will not carry it away and leave the vines unprotected from the frost. If the bog is of large size, and a large amount of water is needed, of course a larger and more substantial dam must be built. The accompanying illustration gives a section of a turf dam, preferably about fifteen feet wide at the bottom by ten feet at the top, constructed of turf, and sand or clay, in such a manner as to be absolutely safe.

It will be seen that the walls slope from the foundation to the top, and are composed outside of layers of turf, so laid one upon the other that the joints are broken and a solid wall is made, between which is filled in a mass of stone, clay, and sand, thoroughly tamped down so as to make a firm structure in the centre of the dam. At the end of the main ditch should be constructed a water-course or flume, preferably of two-inch plank, with a waste-gate that can be raised or lowered as the supply of water may be needed or allowed to run to waste. This is simply made of plank, with an oak joist for a lever, which, used as a pry, easily opens the gate.

THE SANDING.

The sand used on a Cranberry bog should be absolutely free from either clay or loam, for if it contain either it will, in the one case, under the action of sun and water, form a hard surface in which the vines will not thrive, or in the other, if there is much loam intermixed, it will contain weed seeds, which will prove a detriment to the bog. Sand can generally be found in the immediate vicinity of the bog, and should preferably be coarse rather than fine in quality.

To spread the sand over the bog, lay down a course of plank, over which the sand can be wheeled in barrows and so dumped, from this plank-walk, as to make the level spreading thereof a matter of little labor; shift the plank about four feet from that portion already covered, and dump to right and left as before; enough should be brought on to give an even coating of from four to five inches, and it may be smoothed by a lawn rake, or a leveller made of one-inch board, about a foot and a half long, by three or four inches wide, with a rake handle fastened in the centre of the board.

When the sand has been evenly spread over the bog, it is ready to be marked off. This is generally done by using an improvised rake or “marker,” made of a piece of 2 by 4 inch joist, seven to ten feet long, with white-oak teeth eight inches long, set eighteen inches apart, the whole finished with a handle for easy working. This rake is usually run parallel with some straight ditch, or along one side of a bog in a straight line, so that when set in vines it may present a uniform appearance. But as, in the case of corn, “more grows in crooked rows than straight ones,” this may be left to taste and convenience; again cross-marking at right angles, and you are ready for setting the vines.

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NEWPORT, R.I., Oct. 26, 1891.

I have used Bradley’s Fertilizer on my cranberry bog twice, and find a great improvement in checking the growth of moss, also in starting the vines. In fact, I think it made the vines grow too fast, or I may have put on too much. I can recommend it as a first-class Fertilizer.

H. B. RYDER, 17 Harvard Ave.

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NORTH HARWICH, MASS., Oct. 19, 1891.

I have used Bradley’s Fertilizer on my cranberry bogs, both old and new, the past three or four years, with highly satisfactory results. It adds to the growth of new vines, so that they cover the ground quicker, and come into bearing one or two years earlier than they would were there no fertilizer applied.

On my old vines the effect of this Fertilizer has been to kill out the moss (burn it up, to appearance), and to so renew the vines as to give them the look of a young bog.

JOHN E. RYDER.

DENNISPORT, Mar. 2, 1892.

I have used Bradley’s Fertilizers for a number of years on cranberry vines, both old and new, with good and satisfactory results. The fruit will generally be larger and fairer where it is used, and used on young vines will cause them to spread and shade the ground, thus preventing as large a growth of weeds. I cheerfully recommend it to all cranberry growers.

The foreground shows vines set in the spring of 1890; the background on the right new bearing bog, and on the left, a small showing of vines set in spring of 1891.

E. K. CROWELL.

THE BEST BERRY.

There is a wide division of opinion in regard to what is the best berry to grow; the shrewdest growers find that a selection of berries, running from the very early to the very late berry, gives the best returns when a series of years is taken into account.

By common consent the purple-black berry, called “Early Black,” has been the favorite with both growers and consumers, as its handsome, rich coloring made it a good seller, while it is also a very prolific berry. It is a medium-hard berry, and for bogs which are liable to be infested with the fire, fruit, or span worm it seems preferable, as the bog can be kept under water until as late as the first or middle of June, and these berries will then, in an average season, ripen before frost. It is, however, pretty well conceded by many growers that this berry has been of great injury to the business as a whole, since it is one of the poorest of keepers, and, while affording profit for the time to the grower, has been of such loss to the “middleman,” as to render him unduly cautious of Cape Cod berries. This reputation which has attached itself to the Cape crop is wholly unwarranted by a careful and intelligent investigation of the many and various conditions which govern this, the most important feature of the whole business.

The “A. D. Makepeace” berry is the outcome of a berry found by its namesake, the largest grower in this country, and gradually cultivated until it is conceded to be the largest early berry in the market, and as such commands a high price. It is of cherry shape, and rose-tinged purple in coloring. Illustration No. 1 is a fair example of the shape of this berry.

The “James Anthony” is a very good variety of the second early berries, and by some considered among the best keepers of the medium-early berries.

The “Bachelor” is a larger berry, and, like the “J. P. Howes,” proves to be a fair keeper and a salable berry, although the Howes is more even and regular in size.

The “McFarland” is a dark-red, handsome berry, of large size, and a favorite with a few large growers.

The “Bugle” or “Chipman” is an older berry, and one of the best keepers, but not as productive as some others.

The six varieties mentioned are the most popular grown. Some others may have a local reputation, which time and attention will bring into favorable notice. Local conditions have much to do, however, with qualities in all cases.