ated by a large dynamo, into the mass of iron, a gash is rapidly melted out, and the girder cut into sections easy to handle with small cranes. It requires about 20 minutes to cut, or melt, through a foot girder. The glare from the tip of the electrical "needle" used is so very intense, that it can not be looked at with the naked eye, and the men operating are compelled to wear a queer looking cap and thick colored goggles. By means of this electrical process the work progresses rapidly and effectively.

The process here depicted has been used recently in many of the larger cities since it has become necessary to devise

means of laying low the immense steel giants of construction. When the plan of the steel structure was first conceived no provision was made for rendering the work of the wrecker easy. As a result, when the first steel building was wrecked, a tremendous problem faced the men who undertook the task. Electricity has solved it for them. Now a building is taken down almost as readily as it is put up. As it is very readily handled and accessible wherever the steel building has found a place, the process has doubtless a permanent foothold in wrecking work. It is difficult, indeed, to know what would be done without it in such a case as this.

ONE hundred and fifty thousand barrels of cranberries are eaten every year by the American people at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, and probably not one in one hundred and fifty thousand of the diners ever stops to think about where the delicious berries come from. The pleasure of turkey and cranberry sauce prevent even a thought of the cost or method of cultivation of this fruit, the demand for which is increasing so fast that it bids fair within a few years to be a luxury which only the rich can enjoy..

Cranberries are native to a narrow belt along the Atlantic coast from Maine to New Jersey, and in isolated areas of the mountains and along the northern border of the United States. The mecca of the industry, however, and the place where it is the greatest commercial success is on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, especially in the great cranberry belt some twentyfive miles wide, extending from Buzzard's Bay northerly to Massachusetts Bay along that line of change from the gravelly soil of the state in general to the sandy soil of the Cape.

The first plantings of the cranberry were in this region early in the nineteenth century, and the first man to cultivate the fruit was the subject of an indignation meeting, at which it was claimed that by building a bog of twelve rods he would supply the mar-. ket and render the sale of the wild cranberry

impossible. From this meagre start, however, the industry has grown to one of first magnitude and has been extended into other states. Massachusetts has about 6,000 acres of bogs; New Jersey 8,000 acres; and Wisconsin 6,000 acres. In point of area next comes Rhode Island, followed by Connecticut and New York. Several other states have from one to fifty acres.

All plants show a preference for certain soils and climatic conditions, and none are more exacting in this particular than the cranberry, which, while easily and successfully grown on congenial soils, will never pay under adverse conditions. From its habits we determine that a cold climate is necessary, provided either by northern latitude or high altitude. The conditions necessary for success are a peaty soil, the best evidence of which is the occurrence of native plants; good drainage, which must be at least 18 inches, providing warm land so the plants will grow fast and produce good

fruit; accessible sand, a large amount of which is used in constructing a bog and frequent applications required to keep it in proper condition, and lastly, plenty of water for flowage. A dry bog will seldom produce every year. As a sure preventative from frost and a relief from all insects and fungus diseases, water is absolutely necessary. Thus the profit

able cultivation can be expected in a limited area and only on low marshy land surrounded by sand banks. With these conditions present, however, it is safe to undertake the cultivation of this most profitable of small fruits.

On Cape Cod this low marshy ground is usually covered with trees and bushes, and contains many large stumps, the re

a three horsepower gasoline engine and geared so powerfully that three or four stumps have been pulled at a time. Formerly three men would remove from fifteen to twenty stumps per day. This machine with three men has taken out 125 stumps in nine hours.

After all vegetable material has been removed the area is made smooth and level, allowing the water to be kept at a uniform depth below the surface while the fruit is developing and to make flooding possible with a minimum supply of water. In addition to leveling the surface, flowage dams are required. It is better to dam off the bog in several sections as often one part is more susceptible to frost than others, or some sections

banks. Two of the cuts herewith show the main and lateral ditches of a 100-acre bog.

The next step consists in covering the graded area to a depth of three or four inches with sand free from clay or loam and containing no seeds. In Cape Cod sections sand is usually found adjacent to the swamp land and is carried to the bog in wheelbarrows over movable planks as illustrated in the photograph above. Care must be taken not to tread this sand into the peat, and also to spread it to a uniform depth.

Seeds are used only for originating new berries. Meadows are established by planting cuttings from ten to fifteen. inches long, laid flat on the ground from

ten to twenty inches apart each way. Then with a dibble placed in the middle of the cutting the plant, doubling upon itself, is forced through the sand into the peat. The vines will then show above the sand one or two inches. The cuttings are

in the vicinity of the meadows and enjoy a free and easy outdoor life of a month, beginning with the latter part of August. Whole families will be found on the bogs, as one of our pictures shows. The parents and older children pick the berries

obtained from vigorous plants by mowing over a portion of producing bog. The best results have been obtained by planting from the middle of May to the 20th of June.

There is practically no cultivation after the bog is once put in condition. The only work required is to keep the area weeded and free from grass or other growth, about all of this work has to be done by hand. Formerly the crop was gathered by hand. Since the industry has expanded, however, many mechanical devices have been invented to reduce the cost and time of harvesting.

A good picker can earn from five to ten dollars per day. Harvesting season is anticipated with all the pleasure of a country fair or an annual feast. Residents from far and near pitch their tents

into a regulation measure while the smaller children carry these filled measures to the cranberry house and receive a check which on designated days will be exchanged for money. Formerly berries were allowed to ripen on the vines. Now, however, it is claimed that a better flavor is obtained by harvesting them green and there is then less danger of bruising the berry.

As the fruit comes from the field there are many leaves, bushes and defective berries in the mass. They are winnowed, carefully assorted, packed in boxes or barrels ready for shipment. The best market is now found in the middle west.

From this necessarily abridged description doubtless the reader concludes. that much expense and hard work is required. Such is the case, but even then