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The Most Extensive Cranberry Field In Michigan

The Most Extensive Cranberry Field In Michigan image
Parent Issue
Day
6
Month
August
Year
1875
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Perhaps the largest field devoted to the raising of crauberries in this State is situated about ix miles northwest of Capao Village in St. Clair county, and is owned by G. S. Parks and auother gentleman, both of whom came froni Wisconsin last fall and purchased the farm. It comprises 2,200 acres, and for it they paid little more than two dollars per acre. Only about 120 acres are high enough for farming purposes, the retuainder being devoted to raising the cranberries. The marsh is nearly surrounded by water, and all along one side there is a chain of lakes, skirted on both bauks by beautiful groves on high lauds. The water in the lakes is inuch higher than the marsh and tliia is considered a great advantage. The owners early this spring began extensivo itnprovements in the way of providing ditches on the marsh for the purpose of irrigating in the spring and draiuing later in the season. A gang of workmen is now at work on one of the niain ditches, which is being construted around the borders of the marsh. The dirt is being taken out and piled on the outer bank, forming a wall to keep the water confined when iirigation begins. This ditch is eight feet wide and will be over fíve miles long. In addition to this there will ba a number of large ditches nd smaller ones to oonneot throughout ie field to aocalerate irrigation in tbe roper season and to more thoroughly ruin the field after the berries havu set ud are ripening. A visit was riante to ie niaish fjaturday. It was a sight to ee the ditehers at work. The soil to a ;reat depth below the surface is made roui the rank growth of grasses that ïave been growing and rottiug on the round for years past. The ditching was parforuied very rapidly, and the intruinent used were hay kuiven with ong handles to cut the surface in quares of nearly a toot, and forks with he tines bunt at right angles to the bandiet to pull these squares out and ay them on the bank. The soil being uiade up from vegetable growth hung together and a foot below the surfaoe where it was more rotten, the squares would easily break off. The men would dig over eight rods eaoh day. Thu marsh was very soft as the water stood nearly even with the surfaue. The uiain ditühes will connect with one of the lakes at the head of the marsh and above it, by which irrigation wül be carried on. A few years ago the marsh burned over, and since then but few hyrrios have been picked, as the vine were killed down. A rank growth of vines, nearly covering the entire field, has since sprung up, which are begiuniiig to be ir, and a full and heavy erop will be grown in about ,two years. There is now considerable grass growing over the marsh, but the vines are slowly crowding it out and in a few years none will be left. There are several of these marshes in this part of the county, but none so extensivo nor as well situated as this one. If the vines grow well the farm will prove a rich investment, as the land will produce from oue hundred to five hundred bushels per acre and will net the growers at least three dollars per bushel. These gentlemen are also exteusive growers of cranberries in consin.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus