150 Fruits and Fruit- Trees. 



are yielded by another species of Vaccinium, called, from 

 some doubtful association with the immortal mountain- 

 ridge near ancient Troy, "Vitis Idaea" the vine of 

 Mount Ida. In the vernacular they are "cow-berries." 

 Growing abundantly on rocky moors, and on wild and 

 airy slopes of sub-alpine hills, especially in the north of 

 England and in Scotland, the pretty little clusters, first 

 of light pink flowers, then of smooth-cheeked and shining 

 fruit, never escape the observant. These berries are said 

 to be sold in the markets of Aberdeen. Yet another 

 species, also common in the Highlands, the Vaccinium 

 uliginosum, produces fruit very similar to that of the 

 Myrtillus, but not so juicy, and having the very ill repute 

 of being decidedly narcotic and injurious. 



THE CRANBERRY (Oxycoccos palustris). 



WHILE the true Vaccinia diffuse themselves over the 

 elevated moorlands, where the soil is seldom saturated, in 

 the wet peat-bogs their place is taken by the cranberry, 

 a very near ally, and differentiated in little beyond the 

 shape of the flower, which is deeply four-lobed, the lobes 

 bending back so as to disclose the stamens. These 

 form a central cone of golden yellow that sets off the 

 delicate rose hue of the petals. As a flowering-plant 

 the cranberry justly claims a front place among Nature's 

 bijouterie. So far as known, it is the smallest of fruiting- 



