ENPages
p. 4
1875.
When the good quality of the American cranberry first became known some one sent as a kindly compliment a barrel-full to a friend in [England] Liverpool. The compliment was fully appreciated and thanks returned for the friendly act but, says the recipient, "unfortunately they had become sour and consequently were cosigned to the Pigs"!
To the cranberry as well as the potato failed of proper appreciation whom first introduced into Europe. The American cranberry was first cultivated in England many years ago by Sir Joseph Banks, who seems to have done a great many useful things. The European cranberry is more difficult of cultivation and has been but seldom attempted.
First cultivated in this country by Henry Hall of [Deanis?] man. on Cape Cod in 1812. [&c.?] and cultivated in New Jersey in 1843.
The Alpine cranberry (V. vitis=idea] mentioned above is a very common and well known and fully appreciated plant in Norway and Sweden. The best use of the berry is for making a jelly which is eaten with all kinds of roast meat, and is far preferable to that of the red currant as a sauce for venison; they are also used for pickling; and the plants are cultivated, like box at the south for garden edgings.
The acid in the fruit has not been chemically examined and reported upon in any which I have access. It me be supposed to consist of two or more partaking more or less "of the character of the malic (of the apple &c.) and of the
p. 5
6/547
1875.
citric (of the lemon &c.) Its full and proper investigation should be undertaken by some competent person under the [cuspices?] of some of our agricultural or Horticultural Societies.
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There is another plant ranked with the cranberry (V. erythrocarpus mx.) or upright cranberry. Introduced into England from this country in 1806. [Pursch?] says of it, "On high mountains of Virginia and Carolina; a shrub flowering in June; berries scarlet, quite transparent and of an exquisite taste." Flora 1 p. 264. Others find the berry quite insipid.
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*** Under the head of citric acid it is represented as found not only in the lemon but mixed with the malic in nearly all the red fruits. Whether the cranberry is excluded by the word "nearly" is a question for consideration. One would suppose that a fruit so much in use would be fully investigated and all its properties, good, bad and indifferent made known.
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Malic Citric and Tartaric acid are found associated together in almost all acid fruits.
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M. Davenport Fisher informs me that upon applying the proper tests he finds the acid of the American cranberry (V. macrocarpus).
*-Thenard [Chemic?-illegible] 2 P. 22. X- Ox. [Illegible] Ph.? p. 264. Cranberry 8th [class?] & 1st [order?] of the old Linnean System.
p. 6
1875.
To consist chiefly of the [kind?] found in the lemon (citric) with very little of the malic and scarcely a trace of either the oxalic or Tartaric. Though he finds no full discussion of the matter in any of the books, he thinks it must have been investigated by somebody and if so the results will probably be found in the American General Pharmacy.-
We therefore conclude that the sources of the cranberry is occasioned by the presence of citric acid; and that the beneficial effects of the lemon are repeated in the cranberry.
If we may judge from the quantity brought to Milwaukee for use or shipment, the production of this fruit varies considerably from year to year the receipts having been
1870-11,508 barrels. 1871- 19,544 " 1872- 88,803 " 1873- 8,136 " 1874-13,589 "
During this time the price has also varied for wild berries from $6.75 to $12 per barrel, cultivated " " $10 to $15.
The cultivated [sale] kinds calling for 25 percent more than the wild.
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Plant Enemies &c.
Sage brush= This is to be destroyed or it will assume the place of the cranberry vines crowding them out.
p. 7
1875.
the two denominators for the new denominator.
It may be deemed one of the wonders of the world that the leaf arrangement should be subjected to such a strict mathematical law; but how much is this wonder increased when it is found that the times of the revolution of the several plants are arranged in accordance with the same law. *Ag. Coal. P. 128.
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It is well to know in what books to look for information upon any subject in hand and hence the following list may be found useful.
References-
-Cranberry Mention of, Ag. Dep. 1870, p. 415: 442-525 also. 1873. p. 461. " Culture Ag. Dep. 1871 p. 398-408. 1873 p. 445-446 " " " " 1859 p. 237-1863 p. 131 " " " " 1868 p. 442-482. 1869. p. 204-418 &c. " Insect enemies of " 1870 p. 70-85 & 526. " " " " 1869 p. 207 " " " " " 1863 p. 134 " Weevil [Anthonomus suturalis ?] [Le Coule?] Dep. Ay? 1869 p. 207, " " 1870 p 7?] " Pine moth or [illegible-worm] or Fire worm [Anchylopera vaccineana?]. Packared Dep. Ag. 1870 p. 85, 1864. p. 207 " Sawfly Pristiphora [identidem?] Ag. Dep. Rep. 1869 p. 207 " Clastoptera proteus Fitch. " " " 1869 p. 207 ---------------------
Cranberry Culturist By [T.?] Trowbridge?- New Haven-1869 White's Cranberry Culture-12 mo. p. 126 1869 N.Y. [Dreuge? Judd? OG?]
p. 8
7/712
1875.
[Feather few?]
This grows on the margin of the marshes and will spread over them as they become dry. Dwarf Willow.
[Domes?-Illegible] about a foot high-found in all the marshes, and is regarded rather as a benefit to the cranberries, by affording a light protection from the sun-thus preventing blight.
Willow, alder, grass, [breaks?-illegible] (ferns) &c. are to be removed. *H.C. Floyd Tm. Wis. Agr. Soc. 1872-3-p. 396.
When [ripening?] the berries hang upon the slender petioles and we may suppose that to this circumstance is [also?] the drop like form that gives name to the bell and bugle varieties. From that is natural to a soft substance hanging to a thread.
[Sketch of berries on stem].
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Phyllotaxis-The leaves of the cranberry [to?] are said to be alternate, [are also] usually arranged in two rows upon the stem one on each side, with their upper surface presented towards the sun; but upon close inspection it will be seen that they are really arranged in the usual 0/5 manner; that is in passing around the stem twice there are five insertions of leaves. This is the third of the several series 1/2, 1/8, 2/5, 3/8, 5/16 &c. formed by adding the last two numerators for a new numerator and
