224 THE FKUIT MANUAL. 



CHESTNUTS. 



We can hardly call the chestnut a British fruit. It is true that in some 

 situations in the southern counties it ripens fruit, but that is generally 

 so very inferior to what is imported from Spain and the south of France, 

 that no one would think of planting the chestnut for its fruit alone. It 

 is as a timber tree that it is so highly valued in this country. 



The following are the varieties that succeed best ; but it is only in 

 hot summers that they attain much excellence : — 



DEVONSHIRE PROLIFIC {New ProZi/?.c).— This is by far the 

 most abundant bearer, and ripens more thoroughly a general crop than 

 any other. 



DOWNTON {KnigMs Prolific).— TUs is distinguished by the very 

 short spines on the husks, and is not so prohfic as the preceding. 



CEANBEEEIES. 



Though these cannot be grown so generally as the other kinds of 

 fruits, there are some who, having devoted their attention to the sub- 

 ject, have succeeded in forming artificial swamps where cranberries 

 have been cultivated with great success. Wherever there is a plentiful 

 supply of running water, with abundance of peat soil, no difficulty need 

 be experienced in growing cranberries. The two species most worth 

 cultivating are the EngUsh and the American. 



ENGLISH {Oxycoccm palustris). — This grows abundantly in bogs or 

 swamps, in many parts of England. The fruit is the size of a pea, and 

 the skin pale red ; they have a somewhat acid flavour, and a strong 

 acidity. 



AMERICAN [Oxycoccm macrocarpm). — Of this there are three 

 varieties : — 



1. Cherry Cranberry, is large, round, and of a dark red colour, 

 resembling a small cherry. 



2. Bugle Cranberry, so called from the shape being like a bugle head, 

 long, and approaching an oval. Skin, pale, and not so deep a crimson 

 as the other varieties. 



3. Bell Cranberry, is bell-shaped, or turbinate, and of a dark coral 

 red. This is a very large variety, and is a great favourite with American 

 growers. 



