6 



Siberia and Sweden they furnish an ardent spirit that is highly- 

 volatile and intoxicating. The leaves are added to Lycopodium 

 alpinum by the Icelanders ; and a yellow dye for coloring wool- 

 lens is produced by an infusion of the two plants." 



Of Vitis-Idaa Loudon says ■} "The berries are scarcely to 

 be eaten raw, but they are made into pies in Derbyshire, and in 

 Sweden a rob or jelly is made from them which is eaten with 

 all kinds of roast meat. In Sweden this preserve is also con- 

 sidered an excellent medicine in colds, sore throats, arid all 

 irritations of the mouth or fauces. In Siberia the berries are 

 macerated during the autumn and part of the winter in water ; 

 and afterwards they are eaten in a raw state, and fermented 

 along with barley or rye, and a spirit distilled from them ; or with 

 honey, and a wine produced. Sweetmeats are also made of 

 them with honey or sugar, which in 1814 we found in frequent 

 use at Moscow at balls and masquerades. The berries of this 

 plant form an important article of commerce in the sea ports 

 bordering the Gulf of Bothnia, whence they are sent to the south 

 of Europe along with cranberries." 



In the colder parts of North America, and along the coast of 

 Maine^ the berries of this species are highly prized for food and 

 are esteemed above the common cranberry for jellies and sauces. 



The berries of V. ovalifolium are used largely by the natives 

 of the Northwest in making a dainty which they call le brou. 

 The berries are gathered before they are quite ripe, pressed into 

 a cake, dried and laid by for winter use. "For use a quantity 

 is put into a vessel of cold water and stirred rapidly until it 

 appears somewhat like soap suds. It is pleasant to the taste, 

 with a slightly bitter flavor."^ Funston, in a recent report on 

 the flora of Alaska, says concerning this species :* "A shrub 

 four feet in height, forms a large part of the undergrowth near 

 the coast (Yakutat Bay, Alaska). The dark purple berries, 

 rather larger than peas, are collected in great quantities by the 

 Indians who use them fresh and preserve them for winter, 

 drying the fresh berries by artificial heat. In September, imme- 

 diately after the close of the fishing season, nearly all the women 



■ Arb. et B''ruit, 2:1166. 



' Harvey, Trans. Maine Pom. Soc, 1895, ,V2. 



»R. Brown, Jr., Bot. Soc, Edinburgh 9:384. 



* Contrlb. U. S. Nat'l Herb. 3:No. 6, clteci by Garcl. and For. 9:70, (1896). 



