HUCKLEBERRIES AND BLUEBERRIES. 25 



5. Vaccinium Myrtillus,!,. Schk., Handb., 1. 107 ; Reichenb., Ic. 



Germ., t. 1169; Hook., Fl., 2, 33; 



Gray, Syn. Fl., 2, 1, 24. 

 Synonyme, Vaccinium myrtilloides, Watson, Bot. King's Ex., 



209, not of others. 



Europe, Asia, Rocky Mountains of North America, extending 

 as far south as Colorado and north-east Utah, and north-west 

 to Alaska. 



Lyte's Dodoens, 1586, mentions " som that beare white berries 

 when they be ripe ; howbeit the)' are but seldome scene." White 

 fruits are catalogued by Ruppius in his " Flora Jenensis," in 

 1726, and were also found by Gmelin in Siberia, 1768. This 

 variety with white berries has also been found in Scotland, accord- 

 ing to Phillips. 



In the Orkneys the fruit is of large size and a wine of line 

 flavor has been made from it.^ The Highlanders of Scotland eat 

 the berries in milk, and make them into tarts and jellies, which 

 last they mix with their whiskey to give it a relish to strangers.* 

 Bryant ' mentions that in England they are taken to market to be 

 eaten raw or made into tarts, etc., and their present use for these 

 purposes in England is frequent.^ In Lapland they are esteemed 

 a delicacy, prepared in various ways,** and are eaten fresh or dried 

 in Sweden.'" In France they are esteemed as a fruit,'' and are 

 used for coloring wine. In Poland the ripe berries mixed with 

 wood strawberries are esteemed as a great delicacy.'' They are 

 eaten als© in Germany, and Caesalpinus mentions their use in the 

 Alpine region, where they are called Bagolae. In Siberia Gmelin 

 says the}' occupy no mean place at dessert, and in the Rocky 

 Mountain region of America the}^ are a favorite food for the 

 Indians.'^ 



The various English names are Whortleberry, Black Whorts or 

 Whorts, Bilberry, and Blaeberry. In Sweden thej are called in 

 Upland, Blabar ; in Smoland, Slynnon ; in West-Gothia, Slinner ; 

 in Scania, Bollion ; in Lapland, Zirre and Zerre ; in France, Airelle, 

 Aurelle, Myrtilles, Myrtille desbois, Bluete, or in Brittany, Lucets, 



6 Dickson, Pr. Essays H. Soc, 2d ser., VU, 132. 



« Lightfoot, Fl. Scot., i, 201. ' Bryant, Fl. Diaet., 1783, 132. 



8 Masters, Treas. of Bot , 2, 1103. ^ Linnaeus, Fl. Lap., n. 143. 



If Aspelin, Fl. Oecon., 1748, 520. " Noisette, Man., 1829, 448. 



12 Don., Gard. Diet., 3. 852. "U. S. Dept. Agr. Kept., 1870, 415. 



