Cranberry culture

Preface

In view of the rapidly increasing demand for a reliable guide, or text-book for the cranberry culturist, we have attempted, with the liberal aid of some of our most successful growers, to prepare such a work.

Our aim has been to embody, in a plain and concise manner, all the useful and practical facts which study and experience have yielded to the inquiring cranberry grower of the present time. The business has increased enormously within the last ten years, and knowledge and experience have kept pace with that increase. The insufficiency of the works upon this subject, which we have hitherto taken as books of reference, is very apparent.

We have endeavored to make this work as comprehensive as possible, and we trust it will prove an efficient guide to all who may have cause to consult its pages.

J. J. W.

JuLiusTOWN, Burlington Co., N. J.,

Insects In.jurious to the Cranberry . II3 5 ' "■

Index To Illustrations

Bell Cranberry Page 9

Bugle " 11

Cherry '' 13

Section of Heath Pond 30

Feather-leaf— Cassandra calyculata 31

Section of Swamp 32

Section of Savanna 33

Section of Mill-Pond 34

Bill-hook 36

Cutting and Paring Turf. 3T

Main and Side Drains 38

Sanding a Meadow 39

Trenching for Sand 42

Sphagnum Moss and Cranberries 43

Turf Cutter 44

Section of a Turf Fence 46

Plants on Clean and Rooty Surfaces 48

Planting in Strips 48

Planting in Hills 52

Planting in Drills 53

Proper Position of Vines 53

Incorrectly Planted 54

Correctly Planted 54

Planting by Pressure 55

Double-seeded Millet 59

Levelling ^^

Dam Supported by Turf 67

Flood-gate 69

Embankment Supported by a Turf Fence TO

Work of the Frnit-worm "^^

The Vine- worm and its Work '^4

Portable Fan SO

Peck Box 86

Cranberry Fan 93

Chapter I. Natural History

The Cranberry is supposed to have been so named from the appearance of its bud. Just before expanding into the perfect flower, the stem, calyx and petals resemble the neck, head and bill of a crane — hence the name, " craneberry," or " cranberry." According to botanical classification, the Cranberry belongs to the Natural Order Ericaceae, or Heath Family, and to the genus Yaccinium. Bilberries and whortleberries also belong to the same genus. There are two species of Cranberry growing within our territory — the Small Cranberry, Vaccimum Ox^coeciis, and the Large, or American Cranberry, Yaccinium macrocarpon.

The runners of the Y. Oxy coccus are very slender, being from four to nine inches long. The leaves are from two to three lines in length, ovate, with strongly revolute margins. The Small Cranberry is found in the peat bogs of New England and Pennsylvania, and westward to Wisconsin, and northward. 7

8 CKANBEREY CULTURE.

C. L. Flint speaks of having observed it in the swamps of Provincetown, Massachusetts, where it is called the *' Spice Cranberry ;" it is also found in South America, and on the vast steppes of Russia, also occasionally in the wastes of Siberia.

The V. Oxycoccus flowers in June. The berries are from two to three lines in diameter, and often speckled with white when young ; owing to its small size and acrid flavor, this species is seldom gathered for the market. It is said that in Sweden, the acid juice of this berry was formerly used to boil silver j^late in, that it might eat off* the minute particles of copper alloy.

The V. inacrocarpon puts forth stems or runners varying from one foot to six feet or more in length. The tendency of these runners is to trail upon the ground, and send down numerous little roots to draw up moisture and nourishment for the flowering branches which ascend from the runners, at frequent intervals, to the height of from three to twelve inches. The leaves are oblong, from four to six lines in length, and are covered with a whitish bloom underneath.

The "K macrocarpon also flowers in June, producing berries varying from one-fourth to one inch in diameter; these are of a light green color while growing, but when fully rlpe^ of a bright crimson, or carmine color. It is a native of North America, and is found growing naturally in the peat bogs of Virginia, and westward to Minnesota, also northward, and abundantly in the British Possessions. In Minnesota it grows extensively, being gathered in large quantities by the Indians.

Its favorite resorts are swamps and morasses containing rich bottoms of decomposed vegetable matter, commonly called muck, or peat. These swamps are apt to be flooded during every wet term, especially in winter and early spring ; but in the growing season they attain some degree of dryness, without which the vmes will not flourish.

NATUEAL HISTORY

10 CKANBERRY CULTUliE.

This is not apparent at first sight, as the vines appear to be growing in the water; but upon closely examining plants growing in a wet swamp, the roots Avill be found not penetrating the muck, as was at first supposed, but entwining themselves among the sphagnum moss above it (see fig. 14). The water settling away at certain seasons of the year leaves the moss comparatively dry, although it possesses the property of retaining sufficient moisture to support the plants, even in the dryest times.

ANALYSIS.

An analysis of this fruit was made, some years ago, by Professor E. N. Horsford, of Cambridge, with the following results in one hundred parts :

Water 88.78

Ash , 17

Woody fibre, organic acids, etc 11.05

100.00

Percentage of potash in the ash 42.67

The berries were dried in a steam chamber at 212° F., and from these the ash determined by slow combustion in a platinum crucible.

The qualitative analysis of the ash indicated the presence of the following substances, viz. : Potassa, soda, lime, magnesia, sesquioxide of iron, sesquioxide of manganese, sulphuric acid, chlorine, silicic acid, carbonic acid, phosphoric acid, charcoal and sand.

From this analysis it will be seen that only seventeen one-hundredths, or less than two-tenths of one per cent of the Cranberry are found in the ash, as inorganic matter derived from the soil, all the rest being derived from the atmosphere and from water.

" The results of experience are, therefore," says Flint, " strikingly corroborated by the deductions of science,

NATURAL HISTORY.

12 CRAXBEKRY CULTURE.

that the Cranberry will grow where nothmg else will. It explains, too, how it is that it seems to require little for its perfect development but air and water."

The American Cranberry is divided, by Avriters upon this subject, into three varieties.

1st. The Bell Cranberry (fig. 1).— This variety is so named because of its resemblance to a bell in shape.

2d. The Bu^le Cranberry (fig. 2), was so called from its resemblance to a bugle bead, being elongated, and approaching in shape to an oval.

3d. The Cherry Cranberry (fig. 3) is spherical in form, and somewhat similar in shape, size, and color to the cherry, from which it derives its name.

These varieties are to be known only by their fruits ; the difference in the appearance or growth of the vines being insufficient to distinguish them. Although the different forms, previously described, are distinct, and well marked, one plant producing one variety only, yet cranberries are found existing in all the intermediate shapes between these ; for instance, the Bell and the Cherry cranberries are distinctly marked, but many specimens are found bearing so much resemblance to both, that one could not tell, to which variety they belonged.

There are, apparently, different varieties of vines also, some being lower and more trailing than others, but even these low vines produce fruit of various qualities. The largest cranberries we have yet seen — being about one inch in diameter — belonged to the Bell variety, and were grown upon vines of this character, originally obtained from a natural bog by John Webb.

Other characteristics exist beside the shape of the fruit, characteristics which are much more important, to be observed by the grower ; for instance, if one goes into the market with the view of selling a lot of cranberries, the question is not What shape are they? but rather, Are they well colored? or. Are they of good size?

NATURAL HISTOKY.

The color is perhaps most carefully noted, consumers suspectmg light colored berries of being unripe. Wholesale buyers will make a difference of from %\ to $3 per barrel on that account, giving the highest price for those which are of a deep red color. Fruit of this appearance is certainly the most attractive, but berries need not necessarily be unripe because they are pale ; in fact, there is an undescribed variety in New Jersey, the fruit of which is cream-colored when fully ripe, and remains so, even if kept until spring. They are of good size, among the best of keepers, and very inviting when properly prepared for the table.

Many berries which ultimately turn red, partake more or less of the nature of this variety, being very light colored about picking time, while others, under similar circumstances, are entirely red ; but even those which are disposed to become red will remain light colored much longer if hidden away in the shade of densely matted vines. There seems, however, to be a decided difference in the time of coloring, even of berries having the same shape, and produced under like circumstances.

This fact renders the selection of vines for planting an important matter, since a small portion of light colored berries will, if not removed, seriously affect the sale of the whole lot.

Vines producing red berries, ripening uniformly, are very desirable ; but there is no way of selecting the best vines except by a "knowledge of the fruit they produce, and this should be had, if possible, before using them.

It is also an important matter, in transplanting vines, to secure those yielding large sized berries, for the reason that fine, showy fruit is at a premium in the markets, and will always command the highest prices.

The appearance of one's marketing has very much to do with the price obtained for it in large cities, most of the inhabitants of which have but a slight acquaintance

KATURAL HISTOltY. 15

with the different varieties of fruits or vegetables. The best looking are selected first ; reasoning by analogy, they conclude that the largest and fairest must necessarily be the best, but in this they frequently err. Those varieties of fruit which are finest, and possess the highest flavor, are generally of medium size. We know of no especial difference in the flavor of cranberries, whether they be large or small. But the small varieties are certainly the best keepers, and also the heaviest, they being almost solid, while the largest sorts are quite hollow.

It has been asserted by writers upon this subject that there are two kinds of cranberry vines, viz., the jiroductive, and the barren ; or, as B. Eastwood terms them, the " healthy, and the unhealthy vine." He says : " The healthy vine, as far as we have been able to discover, presents an appearance of greenish-brown on the leaf; the spears and runners are fine and thin, remarkable for their wiry nature and aspect. They seem of stunted growth, but form beautiful and tufted groups of spears in their process of matting. The unhealthy vine appears altogether brighter and stronger, and hence, from this peculiarity, some are apt to be mistaken ; for instance, a practical grower was disappointed in finding his most luxuriant vines, and those from which he had expected the best returns, barren. * The barren vines,' said he, ' looked greener, had more bushy leaves and stronger or thicker spears than those which produced the most fruit.' I felt confident, from their appearance, that they were the best vines I ever saw ; but I lived to find out that these signs, which I took to indicate the productiveness of the plant, were only symptoms of disease^ which disease means barrenness.'''*

Another failure, resulting from the same cause, has been brought to our notice.

A farmer near Bristol, Pa., desiring to cultivate cranberries, procured vines from several reliable growers in

New Jersey nnd Massachusetts, and planted them in low, rich, meadow ground, which to him seemed suitable for them. They were carefully tended, and the growth was most luxuriant, but there was no fruit. Supposing a covering of sand would check the growth, he procured some at heavy expense, and spread it over them; still they remained barren, and after several years of unfruitfulness, were offered to a New Jersey grower for setting out a new bed. But the appearance of the vines condemned them ; they had become almost as thick as pea vines, and the grower would not accept them, even gratuitously. Perhaps the only way of making this patch fruitful would have been to have covered the vines, during several sucessive winters, with as much clear sand as they would grow through, until a covering of six or eight inches had been placed upon the original soil.

We have visited hundreds of acres of cultivated cranberry meadows, the vines for which were taken indiscriminately from natural bogs, without reference to their kind or quality, and we have yet to see the first square rod of barren vines, the cause of which could not be traced to the soil on which they were growing.

Barrenness may result from two causes, viz., the soil may be too rich in vegetable matter, or it may be too poor.

The cranberry plant, like many others, if put on very strong land, will run to vine, and produce little or no fruit. The sweet potato, for instance, sometimes makes a great show upon the surface without yielding the abundant crop that its vines seemed to promise. One cannot always judge of a fire by the smoke he sees.

Generally speaking, where we hear of barren vines, we hear of a luxuriant growth. Productive vines, of good repute, have, to our certain knowledge, become fruitless by being placed under circumstances most favorable for their growth and development.

NATUHAL HISTORY. 17

There are two remedies for an over-abundant growth of vine; viz., sand and water, of which we will. speak more fully hereafter.

Another cause of unfruitfulness may be the extreme poverty of the soil. Sand is sometimes so deficient in vegetable matter as to produce little or no vine, and when this is the case, much fruit cannot be exj^ected.

As before stated, the Cranberry grows naturally on moist bottoms ; and soils of this character are the only ones upon which it can be cultivated profitably, although designing nurserymen have asserted to the contrary, with the view of disposing of their plants. By way of illustration we give the following, taken from the catalogue of an old established nursery:

" The True Cape Cod variety^ now offered, is by far the best in cultivation, and succeeds best in uplands. There are several sorts in the market, known as the " Bell," the " Cherry," and many other fancy names, which do not compare with this, in real, practical value. Plants^ packed with great care^ $2 per 100, $10 per 1,000." To complete the decejition, they quote a writer in the Maine Farmer, -who says : " My crop, grown on loam^ in 1863, was at the rate of 453 bushels per acre." Other statements are also made in the catalogue, which are calculated to mislead the unsuspecting or ignorant, and induce them to pay enormous prices for plants which will be of little or no advantage to them, if planted in the manner recommended ; viz., " on upland," and " on loam." The policy of their assertions is evident ; small fruits, for one's own family, are generally grown in the garden, upon selected upland, and every one owning such a spot would naturally desire to have this A^aluable fruit among his collection.

But comparatively few possess ground adapted to cranberries, hence unprincipled dealers recommend a system of culture for the many, that they may sell the more vines.

There is a plant called the High-bush, or High Cranberry ( Viburnum Opulits), indigenous to North America, found on uplands in many localities in the Northern States. C. L. Flint says : " It is a beautiful shrub, sometimes ten or twelve feet high, having a white blossom, and a fruit somewhat smaller than the common cranberry, perfectly red, and of an acid taste, well adapted for pies, tarts, etc., for which it is often used. The fruit differs from the common cranberry in having a small, oblong stone, instead of seeds. It is easily propagated from the seeds, layers, or cuttings, and is often found as a garden shrub, flourishing in every variety of soil, sands and clays, wet and dry. Its berries grow in clusters, and are persistent through the winter."

*' The plant called, in Maine, the Mountain Cranberry (Vaccmium Yitis-Idma) ^ has leaves shaped like those of our common Cranberry, and bears an acid fruit, used for the same i^urposes as our cranberry. It is occasionally met with in Massachusetts, where it is called the * Cow Berry.' "

There is still another plant {Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi, Spreng. Arbutus of Linn.) found in abundance on Cape Cod, and there called the Hog Cranberry. It also grows abundantly in the Pine region of New Jersey, where it is known as the Grouse Berry, Upland Cranberry, also Bearberry and Uva-ursi, and in some parts as " Universe," a corruption of Uva-ursi.

It is not properly a variety of the cranberry, but belongs to a different genus. Like that plant, however, it is trailing, and has leaves somewhat similar in shape. Its fruit is red, but smaller than the cranberry, and of a dry, mealy nature. Both fruit and leaves are used for medicinal purposes ; the latter are also in demand among the inhabitants as a substitute for tea. The plant may be ob-

HISTOKY OF CULTIVATION. 19

tained in large quantities from its native soil, the dry and barren sands of Cape Cod, and the Pines of South Jersey.

Chapter II. History Of Cultivation

Fifty years ago, one embarking extensively in the cultivation of the cranberry would have been comparable to a craft putting to sea without chart or compass. Doubts Avould have accompanied his progress, and the possibility of profit resulting from his labors have been exceedingly uncertain, for the reason that the wrong courses to be pursued were far more numerous than the right ones. Hence it was that the early cultivators ventured out very cautiously, risking but little of their labor or capital in the doubtful enterprise.

Many failed, but failures, although unpleasant, are not entirely without good results, and should be carefully chronicled, to the end that others may learn wisdom, and not fall into the same errors.

Some were partially successful, and their names have become connected with the business, although their achievements have been far surpassed by men of Avhom we have never heard ; yet they were comparatively successful in their day, and they deserve our notice now, for having laid the foundation of successful cultivation.

These pioneers in the business were men of enterprise ; for they not only encountered many difficulties in growing the fruit, but were unable to sell it, when grown, for remunerative prices. Strange as it may appear, when the supply of cranberries was very limited, and derived almost entirely from natural bogs, the price per bushel was

20 CRANBERKY CULTURE.

discouragingly low. For instance, about thirty years ago, two well-known merchants of Medford, N. J., invested in a lot of good, natural cranberries, with the view of speculation. The price paid was 62 cents per bushel, and yet they lost money by the operation.

The success of a few cultivators becoming known, others were induced to attempt the business, and as the supply gradually increased, the berries were exposed for sale in new markets, and people who had before been unacquainted w^ith them were, perhaps, attracted by their fine appearance, and led to give them a trial in the famous tart or sauce, — a trial being sufficient to convince even the most skeptical of their excellence, and create a demand for them wherever they were introduced.

This demand, steadily increasing, even faster than the supply, caused the j) rices to advance, and as the business became remunerative, growers were multiplied in numbers, and stimulated to greater exertions. But, notwithstanding the enormously increased jDroduction, the demand has increased still more rapidly, and consequently the price has kept pace with it.

Boswell, writing for the Public Ledger, of Philadelphia, about ten years ago, upon the cultivation, i^reservation, and transportation of the cranberry, said : " There is ten times the quantity raised now that there was forty years ago ; but instead of the price being lower than formerly, it is one hundred i^er cent higher. Forty years ago, in Boston, which has always been the great depot for this fruit, the price was from 75 cents to $1.00 per bushel, but for a few years past the price has ranged from $1.50 to $2.50 per bushel."

It may safely be said that, within the last ten years, the production has increased at least tenfold, and the price is now one hundred per cent higher than that named by Boswell. In fact, a portion of the crop of 1866 was sold by the growers at $10 per bushel.

niSTOEY or CULTIVATION. 21

This price, however, is unusually high, and was caused by a i^artial failure in the crop of that season ; it is only mentioned to illustrate how highly the fruit is api^reciated where it is best known.

Although growing naturally in many parts of North America, there are comparatively few localities where cranberries have been cultivated; of these. Cape Cod and West Jersey are the most important. Some attention has been given to their culture in Maine, and also to the improvement of natural bogs in the ISTorth- western States.

The first attempts at cultivating the cranberry in this country were made on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, about the year 1820, and considerable experience and proficiency were gained by growers in that locality before any attention was given to the subject in ISTew Jersey, — the State which has since taken the lead of all others in this most valuable production.

S. B. Phinney says : " Half a century has now elapsed since Captain Henry Hall, of Dennis, in the County of Barnstable, Mass., commenced the cultivation of the cranberry. His bog, or ' cranberry yard,' as he called it, has no year since failed of producing a remunerative crop. For the next thirty years after Mr. Hall commenced, many experiments were made by others, and most of them proved to be failures. The general cultivation does not date back further than the year 1850, yet since that date there have been many failures, and many bogs, recently set, will never yield remunerative crops. By this term, and by ' successful cultivation,' I mean that the crops, including the present value of the bogs, have more than repaid the original cost, interest, and incidental expenses of cultivating, picking, and sending to market."

It w^as not until about the year 1845 that the first vines were planted in Kew Jersey ; and for several years the history of the Cape Cod pioneers was repeated in the numerous failures that followed. Although the Jerseymen had heard something of the success of their Kew England brethren, they knew little or nothing of their mode of cultivation, and, until towards the year 1860, about nine-tenths of the attempts at cultivation were unprofitable.

John Webb, of Ocean County, was perhaps one of the earliest successful experimenters in this State. He commenced by removing some sods of vines from a neighboring swamp, and placing them in a damp spot, that proved to be adapted to their growth ; in this they flourished, and, in course of time, the ground was covered with vines yielding paying crops.

Encouraged by the success of his first efforts, he added to his number of acres, and his wealth has correspondingly increased.

Barclay White, one of the first cultivators in Burlington County, writing, in 1855, to the Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, said : " In the spring of 1851, I commenced operations by plowing up (the turf was turned under), and planting about three-fourths of an acre on a biack, peaty soil, of twelve or fifteen inches in depth, with a white sand and gravel subsoil. On either side, a few hundred yards distant, on ground in which a horse would mire, the wild vines were growing luxuriantly. I struck out the rows four feet apart each way, and planted a sod of vines, some four inches square, at each intersection. They were cultivated some that season. That fall we picked three pecks of fruit, large and fine ; about an equal quantity had been destroyed by a worm, similar in appearance to the apple-worm. In 1852, I l^lanted about one and a quarter acres in a similar manner, excepting that the hills were placed four feet by two feet apart. The product that fall was about six bushels of large fruit, picked about the last of August, but they did not keep well. The vines had become so matted as to ad-

HISTORY OF CULTIVATION. 23

mit of no cultivation, except hand pulling the grass and huckleberry bushes ; (weeds there were none).

*' No more vines were planted. From the two acres, we picked (about Sept. 7th, 1853,) fourteen bushels of sound fruit ; about seven bushels rotted on the vines within two weeks previous to picking. Those picked were spread out thinly upon floors, out of the reach of frost, and decayed rapidly. I think the loss from decay in five months from the time of j^icking, would amount to seventy-five per cent ; while of the wild berries, picked about the same time, and kept in the same manner, the loss from decay was not more than one or two per cent.

*'Upon viewing the plantation in the latter part of August, 1854, 1 found the vines most luxuriant, matting completely over the surface of the ground. There appeared then to be about twenty-five or thirty bushels of sound fruit upon them, not quite ripe enough for picking. These soon commenced rotting, and when they were picked, about the middle of September, I secured only about ten bushels of sound fruit, which kept quite as badly as during the previous winter.

" Such has been my experience in the cultivation of the cranberry ; and unless I can find a remedy for this rotting of the berry, I must abandon the business as unprofitable.

"If this can be avoided, there is an excellent opportunity here to cultivate them extensively and profitably. They begin to rot about the commencement of their ripening or coloring, on the side touching the ground, presenting the appearance of having been scalded. I have thought it might be owing to the hot sun shining on them after rain, scalding the part touching the earth. Possibly, when the vines become thicker, shading the ground more thoroughly, it may be corrected. If that is the case, I will try a new plantation, setting out the, plants one foot apart each way."

There was much truth in his supposed cause of the decay, as well as in the remedy ; sucli were the difficulties which continually harrassed the first cultivators. They had no experience to guide their steps ; no certain rules of procedure ; consequently the slow progress, and frequent failures.

It was not until near the year 1860 that the cranberry business was commenced in earnest in New Jersey. Since that time it has rapidly developed, until now the value of cultivated cranberry property in this State, alone, may be estimated at several millions of dollars. In fact, Professor Cook, State Geologist for ISTew Jersey, alluding to this production in his report of 1869, said: "Already our fields supply more than half of all raised in the United States." Our crop of that year being estimated at more than one hundred thousand bushels.

And yet, with these enormous results, their cultivation is principally confined to three counties, viz.. Ocean, Burlington, and Atlantic, and perhaps not one two-hundredth part of the area of these is fitted for their culture.

The three counties, before named, include most of what is known as " The Pines," — an uncultivated region, containing about twelve hundred thousand acres.

From the position it occupies,between the two great cities of the nation, it may be a marvel to some that this region should have remained so long uncultivated; but it is explained in few words. The soil is light and sandy, not suited to growing grass or the cereals, but yielding good crop« when planted in small fruits. These, with the exception of cranberries, require easy and rapid facilities for marketing ; such as are only obtained in the interior by the use of railroads, and those, until recently have been withheld. Hence, the swamps were left to make cedar, and the uplands to produce pine timber. But now, railroad facilities are being afforded, and large portions of "The Pines " are destined to become as a fruitful gfarden under the skillful management of the fruit grower.

Chapter III. Choice Of Locations

Every possessor of waste swamp land is interested to know whether, by planting it in cranberries, he may not '' make it to blossom as the rose," and, at the same time, increase his revenue.

To every one about to engage in the cranberry business, the proper location for a meadow, as regards its soil and surroundings, is a matter of the utmost importance ; for the reason, that, if a suitable soil is not selected at the start, the greatest care in preparing the ground, in setting out the vines, and in nursing them afterward, will fail to make the undertaking a success. Whereas, should a bog be chosen that is really adapted to their growth^ some carelessness in regard to preparing and planting may follow without causing a failure.