CRAB APPLE. 



CRANBERRY. 



and in thrush and ulceration of the mouth and 

 gums. It is sometimes mixed with beer-yeast, 

 and applied outwardly, in inflammations, bad 

 legs, burns, sprains, and scalds ; but cold water 

 and rest are better. 



CRAB APPLE (Malus coronaria). This 

 species of wild apple tree is found in North 

 America, and at the time Michaux wrote his 

 Sylva Americana, he says its nature had not 

 been modified by cultivation. The wild ap'ilc 

 tree of Europe, in a long series of years, has 

 yielded a great number of species and varie- 

 ties of fruit, which, in France alone, amount 

 to nearly three hundred. Except the district 

 of Maine, the state of Vermont, and the upper 

 part of New Hampshire, the crab apple is 

 found, on both sides of the mountains, through- 

 out the United States : but it appears to be 

 most multiplied in the Middle States, and espe- 

 cially in the back parts of Pennsylvania and 

 of Virginia. It abounds, above all, in the 

 Glades, which is the name given to a tract 15 

 or 18 miles wide, on the summit of the Alle- 

 ghanies, along the road from Philadelphia to 

 Pittsburgh. 



The ordinary height of the crab apple tree 

 is 15 or 18 feet, with a diameter of 5 or 6 

 inches; but it is sometimes found 25 or 30 feet 

 high, and 12 or 15 inches in diameter. The 

 two stocks which I found by measurement to 

 be of this size, stood in a field which had long 

 been under cultivation, and this circumstance 

 may have contributed to their extraordinary 

 growth. They were insulated trees that in ap- 

 pearance exactly resembled the common apple 

 tree. I have universally remarked that the 

 crab apple grows most favourably in cool and 

 moist places, and on fertile soils. 



The leaves of this tree are oval, smooth on 

 the upper surface, and, when fully developed, 

 very distinctly toothed : some of them are im- 

 perfectly three-lobed. While young, they have 

 a bitter and slightly aromatic taste, which 

 leads to the belief that, with the addition of 

 sugar, they would make an agreeable tea. Like 

 the common apple tree, this species blooms 

 very early in the spring. Its flowers are white 

 mingled with rose colour, and are collected in 

 corymbs ; they produce a beautiful effect, and 

 diffuse a delicious odour, by which, in the 

 glades where the tree is abundant, the air is 

 perfumed to a great distance. The apples, 

 which are suspended by short peduncles, are 

 small, green, intensely acid, and very odorife- 

 rous. Some farmers make cider of them, 

 which is said to be excellent: they make very 

 fine sweet-meats also, by the addition of a large 

 quantity of sugar. 



No attempts have been made in the United 

 States to improve the fruit of the crab apple 

 tree, nor any experiments of uniting it, by 

 grafting, with the species imported from Eu- 

 rope. These species succeed so perfectly, and 

 furnish such excellent new varieties, that much 

 time would be spent upon the crab apple, with- 

 out bringing it to as high a state of improve- 

 ment. Perhaps it might be cultivated with ad- 

 vantage for cider; but, aside from its utility in 

 this \va-y, it must be regarded only as a tree 

 highly agreeable for the beauty of its flowers 

 and for the sweetness of its perfume. 

 362 



CRAB-GRASS (Elcusine Indica). Dog's-tail 

 grass, Wire grass. The grass described under 

 these several names in the Flora Cestrica, 

 makes a fine carpeting in yards, lanes, and 

 foot-paths, flowering in the Middle States in 

 August. Cattle and hogs are very fond of it, 

 and it is recommended as making excellent 

 hay. 



Another species of grass which in some 

 places goes under the name of Crab-grass, is 

 the Digitatia a'lii^iiin/ilis, or Finger-grass (see 

 plate 7, /). This is a very troublesome an- 

 nual in gardens and cultivated grounds, being 

 very difficult to keep in subjection in the latter 

 part of summer. (Flor. Cestrica.) 



CRACKS IN HEELS OF HORSES. In 

 farriery, little clefts which are said to be 

 sometimes constitutional, but more frequently 

 owing to the want of cleanliness and proper 

 attention. 



CRADLE. A frame consisting of long fin- 

 gers arranged above a scythe, for the purpose 

 of receiving the grain when harvesting. The 

 scythe and cradle is comparatively a modern 

 invention, by the aid of which a hand can cut 

 five or six times as much grain as could be 

 harvested in the same time with a sickle. 



CRANBERRY (Vacdnium oxycoccus). See 

 WHORTLEBERRY. 



The species of Cranberry most commonly 

 found in the United States is the Oxyroccus ma- 

 crocarpvs. It is an indigenous, low trailing 

 vine, growing wild in bogs and meadows, bear- 

 ing a beautiful red berry of an exceedingly 

 sour, though agreeable taste, much used in do- 

 mestic economy for tarts and sweet-meats. 

 The cranberry, says Mr. Kenrick, of Boston, 

 is a plant of easy culture ; and with but little 

 expense, not a doubt exists that meadows which 

 are now barren wastes, or yield nothing bu* 

 coarse herbage, might be concerted into pro 

 fitable cranberry fields. According to Loudon, 

 Sir Joseph Banks, who obtained this plant 

 from America, raised, in 1831, on a square 

 of 18 feet each way, 3 Winchester bushels, 

 which is at the rate of 460 bushels to the 

 acre. Any meadow will answer. Captain 

 Henry Hall, of Barnstable, has cultivated the 

 cranberry 20 years. They grow well on sandy 

 bogs after draining; if the bogs are covered 

 with brush, it is removed, but it is not neces- 

 sary to remove the rushes, as the strong roots 

 of the cranberry soon overpower them. It 

 would be well if, previous to planting, the land 

 could be ploughed; but Capt. Hall usually 

 spreads on beach sand, and digs holes four feet 

 asunder each way, the same distance as for 

 corn; the holes are, however, deeper. Into 

 these holes, sods of cranberry roots are planted, 

 and in the space of three years the whole ground 

 is covered. The planting is usually performed 

 in autumn. Mr. F. A. Hayden, of Lincoln, 

 Mass., is stated to have gathered from his farm, 

 in 1830, 400 bushels of cranberries, which 

 brought him, in Boston market, $400. 



An acre of cranberries in full bearing will 

 produce over 200 bushels; and the fruit gene- 

 rally sells in the markets of Boston for $1-50 

 per bushel, and much higher than in former 

 years. Although a moist soil is best suited to 

 the plant, yet, with a suitable mixture of bog 



