Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/110

9 a] CR A L. is an indigenous plants growing in woods and hedges ; it flourishes better on declivities and in shady- places, than in open, exposed situ- ations, or on boggy soils. Its blos- soms are white, and appear in the month of May. . This is the parent-stock, from which the numerous varieties of the apple are obtained, and on which the better sorts of them are grafted ; because its roots are nei- ther killed by frost, nor eaten by ficldrmice. Grass, and even corn, wil] grow beneath it. The wood of the crab-tree is tolerably hard, turns clean on the lathe ; and, when made into cogs for wheels, acquires a polish, which renders it very durable. The acid juice of the fruit is commonly termed verjuice, and is much employed in recent sprains, and in other, cases, as an astringent or repellent. This fruit is eaten by horses, cows, sheep, goats, and particularly by hogs, which are extremely fond of it. Crab-trees abound especially ia our forests, and their fruit fur- nishes abundance of food for deer, in the latter part of autumn, when grass begins to fail ; and in winter tiny brouze on its branches, which are cut down for that purpose. As this species quickly attains its growth, it deserves to form a part of every plantation ; and we have only to regret, that it is not more generally cultivated, as it will in a short time amply compensate the trouble and expence bestowed on setting it. In dyeing, the bark of the crab- tree has been employed for extract- ing a yellow, and especially a citron colour: Dambourney relates, that the dry shavings of this wood im- parted a fine chesnut-brown to wool prepared by a solution of bismuth. CR A CRAG, a species of manure, consisting of the fragments of va- rious marine shells, wbich abound on the greatest part of the cliffs, contiguous to the British coast. They are often found 40 or 50 feet higher than the level of the sea, and sometimes at a considerable distance from the shore, This kind of manure has but lately been introduced into rural economy, and is not yet sufficient- ly known. The husbandman, in- deed, who is so fortunate as to dis- cover it near his farm, finds a trea- sure of which he cannot avail him- self too soon ; as it will not only warm and meliorate a cold, wet, clayey soil, but also restore ex- hausted land, and render it equal to any, in richness and fertility. — See Manure. Crake-beery : See Black-ber- ried Heath. Crake-needle: See Common Shepherd's Needle. Cranberry: See Bilberry. CRAMP, a kind of numbness, or involuntary contraction of the muscles, attended with a convul- sive effort of the neck, arms, legs, &c. as likewise, with a violent but transitory pain. Aged, sedentary, and infirm persons, are peculiarly liable to this complaint, for which a variety of remedies has been tried, with occasional success. Some- times a garter applied tightly round the limb affe&ed, will speeddy re- move the complaint. When it is more obstinate, a brick should be heated, wrapped in a flannel bag, and placed at the foot of the bed, against which the person troubled with the cramp may place his feet. The brick will remain warm the • who'e night, and thus prevent any return. No remedy, however, is equal to that of diligent and long- continued