60 OXYCOCA- No. 69. 



ease. 



1 Cranberries pec 

 gathe 



exported to Europe and the West Indies: keeping pretty 

 well in barrels, and still better in bottles. They grow 

 from Labrador to New Jersey, Michigan, and the moun- 

 tains of Carolina in swamps, called Cranberry Swamps, 

 when bearing them in abundance* They are usually as 

 large as cherries, and somewhat similar in shape and 

 color, although there appears to be some varieties of 

 them. 1. Coccinea^ almost scarlet- 2. Macidala^ spotted 

 of yellow and red. 3. Oyafa, fruits oval, 4. C/o6o5a, fruits 

 globular. The second or European species is not larger 

 than a pea. The third is similar in size and shape to 

 Barberries. But the white or sweet Cranberry has very 

 different qualities, the berries are snowy white, and 

 similar to those of the Snowberry or Symphoria alba; 

 they are quite sweet and taste somewhat like those of 

 the Red Pollom or Gautiera. The Indians iised to dry 

 these fruits for use, they were called ^toca and £topa 

 in Canada, Smpimecan by the Chippeways^ Pollom was 

 the name of the sweet kind. 



PROPERTIES. Refrigerant, laxative, anti-bilious, 

 anti-putrid, diuretic, sub-astringent, &c. Useful in fe- 

 vers, diarrhcea, scurvy, dropsy, and many other dis- 

 eases. Their acid is said to be the oxahc and malic 

 acid. Cranberry tarts are one, of the American table 

 luxuries. Their juice mixed with sugar or alcohol keeps 

 a long while, and forms a fine acidulous drink with wa- 

 ter, allaying thirst, and lessening the heat of the body. 

 The berries last throughout the winter on the bushes, 

 and are found in our markets from September to April 5 

 when gathered early and unripe, they are less red and 

 acid, with more astringency. A rob and syrup is made 

 also with them. 



The Huckleberries, Bilberries or Whortleberries pro- 

 duced by nearly-thirty species of the genus Vaccimum, 

 are commonly round and black; their taste is sweet, sub- 

 acid sub-astringent and vinous. The V. corymbosum, 

 bronS'''"' ^- resino^wm, &c. furnish most of those 

 wkh mU"" """^ ^^^^^^^^ and extensively eaten alone, ot 

 i^ade a kind '"? *^''' P^?'.' ^^^ puddings; the Indians 

 Ties T vi 'T^ ^'^^' ^^^"^^ and "dried them in 



