18 THE PLANT WORLD. 



Probably of first importance in the above list is the so called small 

 cranberry ( Vaccinhnn rlt/s-ldda). This is found nearly everywhere 

 in the coast region and the interior. The bright red berries are in- 

 tensely acid and of rather good Unvoi-, although a taste for them 

 must be cultivated. In some places large (juantities are gathered for 

 food and a not uncommon method for their preservation for winter's 

 use is by putting them in pure water. In this way they may be ke})t 

 for several months. Next to the cranberry in extent of use would 

 probably rank the crowberry {EiHpetruirt ruf/i-iim). In some regions 

 these berries are gathered by natives in immense (junntities. The ber- 

 ries, which are black when ri})e, have a slightly acid ilavor and are 

 produced in great profusion on the stems. While used to some extent, 

 the crowberry is not very highly prized by the white population and is 

 only used to supplement an otherwise limited diet. The baked apple 

 berry (JRuhas r/iat/ut-'morus), is widely distributed. It goes under a 

 number of names but ^'molka'' is one of the most common. It is 

 sometimes called the Alaskan strawberry and in the interior it is fre- 

 quently, although incorrectly, termed the salmon berry. When ripe 

 the berries are soft and to the writer's taste were insipid although 

 others pronounced them excellent. In some regions children are said 

 to liv^e almost exclusively on them during their season. 



The true salmon berry or "molina" is found abundantly along the 

 southeastern coast region and upon some of the islands. Two forms 

 are met with, one having red and the other yellow fruits. Specimens 

 more than an inch in diameter are common. While hardly equaling 

 the flavor of the eastern blackberry the red forms remind one greatly 

 of that berry and salmon l)erries are valuable adjuncts to the diet of 

 both natives and whites. 



In some resfions the liucklel)erries ( Viu-cliilnni ullqlnostim') and 

 blue berries ( V. ovalifolmm) are abundant and eagerly sought. The 

 latter has, in the writer's opinion, no equal in the genus as a pie berry 

 unless it be the beautiful scarlet berry ( V. jxirrlfohnm). In the 

 vicinity of Sitka both these berries are abundant. The fruit of the 

 former is of a dark blue color with small seeds and averages about a 

 half inch in diameter. The scarlet one is about half as long and is 

 eagerly sought for by the white housewife for jellies, which are of 

 most l)eautiful color and fine flavor. 



In the Cook Inlet county, as well as elsewhere, currants are 

 abundant. In the former place red currants [Bihcs ruhru'in) form an 



