A gentleman of this place having occasion some twenty years ago, to
make an excursion into the northern part of the state, near Lake
Umbagog, where the Magalloway empties into the Androscoggin, passed
through a large piece of low land, comprising many acres, which was
covered with the high cranberry as far as the eye could see, exhibiting
the most beautiful and splendid appearance, perhaps, ever displayed
from any of the spontaneous productions of the forests of New England.
He says that some shrubs which had acquired the magnitude of trees of
several inches diameter, were literally bent to the ground, under the
weight of their luxuriant fruit; and such was their abundance, that a
single individual might have gathered more than thirty bushels in a day.
The high cranberry in dense forests, sometimes acquires the respectable
altitude of 15 or 20 feet; but in more open places, its height is
generally from 6 to 8 or 10 feet. Its stem and leaf very much resemble
those of the snow-ball; and the flower, while it lasts, is but little
inferior in elegance and beauty to the flower of that highly ornamented
and much esteemed shrub. The fruit is smaller than that of the running
cranberry, of a bright red color when ripe, and grows in large, flat
clusters on the ends of the branches. Its taste is very acid, and
rather austere. It contains a large, hard, flat seed, which is an
objection to the use of it without sifting or straining; but being
sifted or strained after stewing, it is excellent for sauce, pies, and
tarts. Prepared with sugar, in the usual way, it makes a most delicious
jelly.