THE CRANBERRY. 77 



CHAPTER X. 

 The Cranberry. 



THE CRANBERRY (Oxycoccus palustris) grows wild on 

 boggy heaths and marshes in the northern parts of this 

 island. It has creeping, slender stems and white 

 flowers, succeeded by small, globular, red berries, which 

 ripen in autumn. The latter have an acid flavour, but 

 they make very palatable tarts and jellies. 



Another species, the American Cranberry (Oxycoccus 

 macrocarpus) bears oval berries, double the size of cur- 

 rants, which are ripe in September. This species is a 

 native of North America. Being better flavoured, the 

 latter is cultivated in preference to the former. 



Culture. Cranberries require a moist situation and a 

 peaty soil to cultivate them successfully. Choose a site 

 for the bed close to a stream or a pond, dig out the soil 

 about 2ft. below the surface of the water, put in a layer 

 of stones ift. deep, and on this place ift. of peaty soil. 

 Plant in early autumn, placing the plants about 2ft. apart 

 each way, and cover the bed, if possible, with a thin layer 

 of sand. Let the water in to moisten the soil, then pre- 

 vent more coming in till the following summer, when 

 again flood the beds occasionally. 



Propagation. This is effected by division of the plant 

 in early autumn. 



