THE CRANBERRY. 



493 



Several varieties of Yellow and Black Currants, which we have re- 

 ceived from Utah, have not fruited sufficiently for us to decide upon 

 their values. 



Selection of Currants. Red Dutch, White Dutch, White Grape, 

 La Versaillaise, Victoria, Cherry. 



Ornamental Varieties. There are several very ornamental species 

 of Currant, among which we may here allude to the Missouri Currant 

 (Ribes Aureum), brought by Lewis and Clarke from the Rocky Moun- 

 tains, which is now very common in our gardens, and generally admired 

 for its very fragrant yellow blossoms. Its oval blue berries, which are 

 produced in great abundance, are relished by some persons. But there is 

 a Large-Fruited Missouri Currant, a variety of this, which bears berries 

 of the size of the Black Naples, and also some with yellow fruit of large 

 size, almost equalling small cherries. 



The Red Flowering Currant (R. sanguineuvi) is a very beauti- 

 ful shrub from the western coast of America, with foliage somewhat 

 like that of the Common Black, but which bears very charming clusters 

 of large light crimson blossoms in April. 



There are several other varieties, as R. sanguineum, n. pi., R. san- 

 guineum atro-purpurea, and R. Gordon! They are not quite hardy 

 enough to stand our winters without protection, but at the South will 

 make a valuable addition to their shrubbery. 



CHAPTER XV. 



THE CRANBERRY. 



Oxy coccus, Arb. Brit. Ericaceae, of botanists. 

 Airelle, of the French ; Die Moosebeere, German ; Veen bessen, Dutch ; 

 Ossicocco, Italian. 



The Cranberry is a familiar trailing shrub, growing wild in swampy, 

 sandy meadows and mossy bogs, in the northern portions of both hemi- 

 spheres, and produces a round, red, acid fruit. Our native species ( 0. 

 •macrocarpus), so common in the swamps of New England, and on the 

 borders of our inland lakes, as to form quite an article of commerce, is 

 much the largest and finest species ; the European Cranberry ( 0. palus- 

 tris) being much smaller in its growth, and producing fruit inferior in 

 size and quality. Also the Russian ( 0. viridis), a medium-sized va- 

 riety. 



Of the 0. macrocarpus, there are three varieties : — The " Bell- 

 shaped," which is the largest and most valued, of a very dark, bright 

 red color. The " Cherry," two kinds, large and small ; the large one 

 the best, of a round form, a fine dark red berry, nearly or quite equal 

 to the Bell-shaped ; and the Bugle, Oval, or Egg-shaped, two kinds, 

 large and small, not so high-colored as the Bell and Cherry — not so 

 much prized, but still a fine variety. 



The value of the common Cranberry for tarts, preserves, and other 



