280 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



cold as those which have been mentioned, it is very 

 hardy. It is a handsome berry, with a delicate 

 bloom when in perfection; but it is tender, and, 

 when kept for some time, ferments. In some of the 

 pine forests in Scotland it grows to the height of 

 three feet; and there are places where the pedes- 

 trian can pull handfuls of berries as large as the 

 common black currant of the gardens. 



Two other species of Vaccinium, the black whortle- 

 berry, and the red (the cranberry) are common 

 enough in some parts of this country. One, if not 

 both of these, grows most readily in moist situa- 

 tions, such as the dry patches in peat-bogs. Tusser 

 mentions " htfrtil-berries" amongst the cultivated 

 fruits of his time. These were, perhaps, confounded 

 with the fruit of the brambles. " Dewberries 1 ' 

 (though supposed by some to be gooseberries) were 

 formerly amongst the delicacies of fruit, if we may 

 judge from the celebrated passage in Midsummer's 

 Night's Dream: 



" Feed him with apricots and dewberries, 



With purple grapes, green figs, and mulberries." 



The red cranberry (Vaccinium rilis tdcea), of 

 which the berries are excellent, has borne fruit abun- 

 dantly under cultivation. The berries of the Penn- 

 sylvanian Vaccinium are very ornamental. 



This genus of berries is very abundant in North 

 America, and also in the northern parts of Russia. 

 The American cranberry ( Vaccinium macrocarpon) 

 forms a considerable article of commerce; and, as 

 does not appear to be the case with some others of 

 the genus, it may be cultivated to advantage on the 

 margins of ponds, and in other moist situations. 

 The importation of cranberries to this country is 

 about 30,000 gallons annually, the duty being six- 

 pence per gallon. This species has been grown in 

 England. 



