. Cranberries; : the national cranberry magazine. Cranberries. Mass. Cranberry Station and Field Notes by J. RICHARD BEATTIE Extension Cranberry Specialist. The Drouffht The weather is the chief topic of conversation among cranberry growers. To say that it is hot and dry is stating it mildly. Many growers are considerably more specific in discussing the situation. In any event, records for consecu- tive high temperatures and drought were broken for the month of July. During the first 28 days in July there were 11 days when temperatures of 90 degrees or above were recorded in the weather shelte
. Cranberries; : the national cranberry magazine. Cranberries. Mass. Cranberry Station and Field Notes by J. RICHARD BEATTIE Extension Cranberry Specialist. The Drouffht The weather is the chief topic of conversation among cranberry growers. To say that it is hot and dry is stating it mildly. Many growers are considerably more specific in discussing the situation. In any event, records for consecu- tive high temperatures and drought were broken for the month of July. During the first 28 days in July there were 11 days when temperatures of 90 degrees or above were recorded in the weather shelter or above were re- ported on the lowland near the blueberry patch, and 16 consecu- tive days when temperatures ex- ceeded 90 degrees. 102 degrees was the maximum recorded dur- ing this period. From May 30 to July 28 we have had only inches of rain which is definitely below normal. The last rain of any consequence was June 30 when .47 inches fell in this area. Overhead Irrigation Pay Off The question of the amount of damage to the crop has been asked a good m'any times during the past few weeks. A quick estimate of damage observed while making regular bog visits would place the loss to this year's prospective crop somewhere around 20 to 25 percent as of July 28. Just what August holds in store for us is another question. Certainly the rainfall in August can be an im- portant factor in determining the size of the crop. The drought of the last few seasons has taught us among other things that it is too late to irrigate after the damage becomes apparent. Once a peat bog becomes dry, it is extremely difficult to wet it up again using the conventional method of rais- ing the water in the ditches. Overhead irrigation equipment has really paid dividends during the past few weeks. We have seen several bogs where sprinklers have been in operation during the drought, and the crops are in good condition. Some growers have portable irrigation equip- ment and have moved them con- stant
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