AMERICAN CRANBERRY.—AS a new and re cent addition to our hardy cultivated fruits, the American Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) de serves particular notice. It is distinguished by the smoothness of the stems, and the largeness of its fruit. It grows freely, and produces its fruit readily, in any damp situation, though not abso lutely marshy ; but wherever there is a pond, it may be cultivated with the greatest success. The margin of' the pond, or a part of it, if large, is to be prepared, by driving in stake's a short way within the water line ; boards are so placed against these, as to prevent the soil of the cranberry-bed from falling into the water. Small stones, such as are raked from the garden borders, are laid in the bottom ; and over these, peat or bog earth, mixed with sand, to the ex tent of about three or four inches above, and half a foot below, the usual surface of the water. If the
plants be placed at six feet asunder in this prepared border, they will cover the whole superficies of it in the course of two seasons, by means of their long runners, which take root at different points. Parti cular attention should be paid to this circumstance, that there are two varieties of the American cran berry, one very productive of fruit, the other not so; of course, the former is to be greatly preferred. From a small space, a large quantity of cranberries may be gathered : if the bed be thirty or forty feet in length, by five or six in breadth, a quantity will be procured sufficient for the supply of a family throughout the year. The cranberries are easily preserved in bottles, till wanted for use in tarts or otherwise.