The Cranberry.The Cranberry.
The Cranberry.
The Cranberry.
Thisbook is not intended to be a scientific or elaborate treatise upon the Cranberry, but rather a book of practical suggestions, and a summary of helpful hints that may prove of benefit to those who undertake to grow this fruit.
The methods of growing Cranberries vary with localities and growers, and are undoubtedly in an experimental state at the present time. The original Cranberry grower was the owner of some wild and uncultivated patch where, in a natural condition, the berries (receiving no attention until picking time) were gathered “at halves,” meeting little or no market beyond the limits of the locality in which they grew.
The modern grower has found the application of improved methods of cultivation and fertilization to pay liberally with the Cranberry, as with every other crop, and it should be his endeavor, through all available methods, to reduce the cost of growing and increase the yield of berries per acre, giving special attention to such culture as may the better secure thekeeping qualityof the fruit.
In order to do this, the grower may have to lay aside his preconceived notions as to the best methods of growing and fertilization, and possibly evendiscard some which have in years past been approved by leading growers. By a careful selection of varieties best adapted to each particular locality, or frequently by a larger increase in the depth of sand upon the bog, and then by the greatest care in all that pertains to the picking and packing of the fruit, he will be enabled to maintain for the Cape berries a foremost reputation as “keepers” among those who handle this valuable crop. Too little attention has heretofore been paid to this essential feature, and quantity rather than quality has been sought. When secured, the berries, as a general thing, are hurriedly packed at the bog, usually warm from the vines, and so, oft-times, they are almost ruined before reaching a market. This practice is largely responsible for the prejudice of some dealers against Cape berries.
Again, improved methods of cultivation by which an increased production, with improved quality, may be secured, are certainly desirable to every individual grower; though the present enormous crop would hardly seem to warrant a larger acreage, yet, at the same time, it behooves every grower to make as productive as possible (in view of the great expenditure) each acre already under cultivation.
The matter here presented is the result of thorough investigation into the methods of cultivation as practised by the most successful growers, and we believe it presents facts to the grower which will prove well worthy of his careful attention.
BRADLEY FERTILIZER CO.