STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 53 



At the request of Mr. Kuonitou, I wrote Miss L. Auaie Huuter of 

 Macliias, Me., regarding this species aud received the followiug interest- 

 ing reply : 



Machias, Me., December 30. 1S95. 

 3Ir. F. L. Hari-cy^ 



Dear Sir : Mr. Kuowltou must refer to the ben-}- so nuicli prized by 

 "us "long shore people," aud called by us '■'upland cranberry." I send 

 j'ou a specimen from m\' herbarium, also a sample of the preserved fruit ; 

 a bit of viue as it is found in winter, with its roots and soil. 



No berry during the year is thought so much of by the middle class 

 people, aloug the coast, — the sauce eating class, — as this cranberry. The 

 poorest soil, uot more than two inches deep is best for its growth. Small 

 families "lay down" at least a bushel of the fruit every fall, that is, the 

 berries are washed and stewed and packed away iu stone crocks aud as it 

 is needed it can be made into fresh, delicious sauce bj- adding equal parts 

 of sugar and stirring well. The fruit thus preserved never spoils. Thei'e 

 is no need of straining out the skins, which are very tender, and tliere is 

 no loss from the berries drying or decaying as with the bog cranberry. 



In our local markets the fruit sells for three dollars and a half per bushel 

 so readily that there are none left to ship except as special orders. One 

 bushel is equal to one aud a half of the large fruit. I do not know of a 

 case where the berrj- has been cultivated, as it grows everywhere among 

 rocks on bad land. 



A great deal more could be gathered iu AVashington county than is now 

 used. The case is that every housewife gets her supply and the berry 

 pickers bring no more to town. After the snow goes off iu the spring, 

 we see the fruit for sale at,the stores for a few weeks. These frost ber- 

 ries are considered very nice, but I have never used any. 



These berries will grow on any rocky island on the Maine coast where 

 moss can cling. They only need protection from sheep. I am well 

 acquainted with the coast in this county, aud have noticed this plaut 

 make its appearance one season, and the next hav'e gathered quantities of 

 berries from the new vines. 



Our people have long talked about the worth of the fruit and no sum- 

 mer visitor has ever tried the sauce to my knowledge, either with meat 

 or "warm biscuit" without declaring it much nicer than any cranberry 

 they ever ate. 



A law of the State protects the fruit till September 1st, but it is often 

 ripe in August. 



Tile sample T send is uot sweetened. If sugar is added in equal parts 

 with perhaps a very little boiling water to help it dissolve, the fruit will 

 jelly as it cools and be verj- nice. 



We have every other variety of cranberi\v in great abundance. We 

 ship them and use them for jelly to be eaten with meats. Thej- do uot 

 at all take the place of the upland cranberry. 



I will gladly answer any further questions and can secure roots for 

 planting if desired. 



Yours with interest, 



L. AXXIE HUXTER. 



