50 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



southward and the large-fruited cranberry product of Vaccinhtm mncro- 

 carpon, Ait. All the American species excepting the white-fruited cran- 

 berry occur in Maine and are considered iu the order of their importance. 



THE COMMON AMERICAN CRANBERRY. 



(Vaccinium macrocarpon^ Ait.^ 



Description — Stems about one to eight feet long, the branches bear- 

 ing flowers ascending; leaves oblong, obtuse, glaucous underneath, 

 four to six lines long and the mai'gins somewhat rovolute; pedicels 

 lateral, severel ; filaments about one-third the length of the anthers; 

 blossoms in June. Properly an evergreen but the leaves become browu 

 in winter. 



Fruit from one-fourth to one inch or more iu diameter. Light 

 green while growiug, but changing in ripening to various shades of red 

 or crimson, or sometimes mottled in color. Ripens in September or 

 October. Flavor considered by most people superior to all others, though 

 size and color take precedence to flavor. 



Varieties — Three principal varieties are recognized by writers, viz : 

 Bell, Bugle and Cherry, depending upon the resemblance in shape or 

 color to these objects. These varieties run together and produce inter- 

 mediate ones. The Mansfield Creeper variety is said to grow on uplands. 



Distribution — Cranberry bogs are found along the coast of Maine and 

 in the interior; in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Canada, north- 

 ern New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Xorth Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, 

 Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa, Oregon, Washington Ter- 

 ritory, Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. The crop of the couutrv is 

 divided into, namelj-. New England, New Jersej^ and Western. The New 

 England crop includes all raised in the New England States, three- 

 fourths of which is raised in the vicinitj' of Cape Cod and known in the 

 markets as Cape cranberries. The Western crop includes that gathered 

 in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, northern Ohio and Indiana. 

 There is also quite a yield in the northwestern part of the United States. 



Production is variable being influenced by the soil, moisture, frosts 

 care, fertilization, insects and fungous pests. The yield is from 50 to 

 300 bushels per acre. A fair average for the countj^ being 110 busliels. 

 Sometime the yield on small areas is at the rate of from 500 to 700 bushels 

 per acre, showing the possibilities if the right conditions could be obtained 

 over large areas. The yield for the couut}^ is on the increase. Statistics 

 show that in 1872 the yield was 275,000 bushels, and for 1890, 800,000 

 bushels. This probably includes both wild and cultivated crops marketed. 

 If to this be added those consumed at home and not reported, the amount 

 would be much increased. liarge quantities are exported in barrels to 

 Europe. The barrels hold 100 quarts, but we have no statistics at hand 

 to show the amount, but it is on the increase. In 1874, ^Ir. P. T. Quiuu 

 visited firms iu London and Liverpool, with a view to trade arrangements. 

 He found that American berries at that time were virtuallv unknown iu 



