200 ^YS'IKMATIC J'OMOl.odV 



eitlier of \\w \)iivo\\\s. It is an inlial)itMiit of temperate, sub- 

 arctic, and ali)in(^ rc^idus of tlic ( )lcl and Xew Worlds, and is 

 usually found in spha«^nuni s\vanii)s. 



2. ]'(U'cinium Oxycoccus, Linn. Stems very slender, almost hair-like, 

 erect or ascending, more slender and shorter than those of V. macrocarpon. 

 Leaves oblonjj or ovate, acute, ^/4 inch long, strongly revolute margins, 

 leathery, evergreen, dark green and glossy above, conspicuously whitened 

 beneath; pedicels 1-4, terminal, the pale rose-colored flowers nodding; 

 corolla 4-i)arted ; filaments one-half as long as the antiiers. Fruit maturing 

 in lati- autumn; smaller than in the last, V^-Vj inch in diameter; round- 

 ish aiul less variable than in the last; red and acid but considered superior 

 in flavor to the large cranberry of more common cultivation. 



299. Blueberries and huckleberries. — Several species of blue- 

 berries and huckleberries are now under process of domestica- 

 tion, though all attempts in the past to bring these fruits under 

 cultivation have failed. Failure seems to have been due to the 

 fact that two peculiarities in the nutrition of these plants were 

 not recognized. Heath-plants will not grow in soils with an 

 alkaline or neutral reaction ; nor without the companionship of 

 a beneficial root fungus. It has been known for many years 

 that these plants will grow only in acid soils, but only recently 

 was the discovery made that there is an association between 

 them and a root-fungus which is indispensable to their well- 

 being. With an acid soil and proper conditions for the root- 

 fungus, it is demonstrated that these fruits can be cultivated 

 profitably. There is noAV little question that sometime there 

 will be numerous varieties of cultivated blueberries and huckle- 

 berries to enrich pine plains, mountain lands, swamps, heaths, 

 and gardens that have proper soil conditions. Cultivated blue- 

 berries and huckleberries would add much to fruit-growing, for 

 these are among the best of small-fruits, and by far the most 

 valuable wild fruits of this continent, the crop selling for sev- 

 eral million dollars annually. 



Blueberries 



Several species of Vacciniums are worthy of consideration by 

 the fruit-grower for the blueberries they produce. Two of 

 these, V. corymbosiim and V. pennsylvanicum now have culti- 

 vated varieties so that descriptions must be given them in this 



