86 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



that its culture can be made profitable here. Some persons 

 may, however, be disposed to try it, as the upland culture of 

 our American species is nearly played out. 



There is a shrub (species of Viburnuni) that bears pretty 

 clusters of small, bright red berries, having a pleasant acid 

 flavor, or taste, and which are called " bush " or " tree cran- 

 berries," — but they are no more cranberries than choke-cherries 

 are gooseberries. 



Of the varieties cultivated here, the large dark crimson 

 berry is considered one of the best — perhaps it is the very 

 best. Its quality is excellent. It ripens early. In color it is 

 much richer than others, and its very handsome form and 

 appearance adds something to its market value. Its size is 

 large when well grown. It can easily be made to attain the 

 size of three-fourths of an inch in diameter each way. Both on 

 clean meadow and on moss, I have seen it this season, averag- 

 ing about that size, with many berries considerably larger. 



The largest cranberries that have been grown in quantity, in 

 Essex County, are of an egg-shaped variety. I do not know 

 whether or not it belongs to the Bugle class. It certainly does 

 not resemble either the Cherry or the Bell class, in form. Mr. 

 Hildreth, of Manchester, cultivates this sort with most enviable 

 success. A large portion of his berries, of this kind, grown 

 this season, measured three-fourths of an iiich in diameter one 

 way, by one inch the other. Some were larger. The fruit is 

 much lighter in color than the Cherry variety, and, I think, a 

 little later in ripening. It takes a lively hue late in the season, 

 but does not become dark crimson, like the Cherry. It is of 

 excellent quality, and commands a high price in market. Tlie 

 vines of both these varieties are very prolific. 



The Bell cranberry is a good variety, or rather, class, and 

 with the best culture the berries grow quite large. I have seen 

 single specimens of this kind measuring seven-eighths of an 

 inch broad near the blossom end, the diameter tlie otlier way 

 being a trifle less. It is a valuable and profitable kind, and is 

 extensively cultivated in Barnstable County, on the Cape. I 

 speak of the Bell cranberry as a class, because there are many 

 varieties that, merely from their form, pass under that name. 

 They have properties well nigh as distinct from each other as 

 so many seedling apples. The same is true of the Cherry and 



