48 FRUIT AND ITS CULTIVATION. 



CHAPTER IV. 

 The Bilberry. 



THE BILBERRY, Blaeberry, or Whortleberry (Vaccinium 

 myrtillus) is a native deciduous shrub, growing only ift. 

 to 2ft. high, in peaty woods, and on heaths in various 

 parts of the country, particularly in the North. In days 

 gone by the purplish berries found a ready market in our 

 large towns, especially London, and were highly esteemed 

 when cooked in tarts, eaten with cream, or made into 

 jelly. The flowers are small, urn-shaped, and pinkish in 

 colour, and the berries purplish when ripe, and about the 

 size of a black currant berry. 



The Cowberry (Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea) is a near rela- 

 tive, and is a low evergreen shrubby plant bearing red 

 berries. It is common in peaty woods and on heaths. 

 Large quantities of this fruit used to be imported in water 

 from Sweden and sold as cranberries. 



Culture. Although a wild plant, the Bilberry may be 

 easily grown in a mixture of peat and leaf-mould in a 

 bed in a sunny position. Plant in autumn 2ft. apart each 

 way. They require no special attention beyond keeping 

 the plants free from weeds. Increased by layering the 

 shoots in summer. 



