156 



Bulletin 145 



objectionable. This seedy character, so evident between the teeth, 

 ])r()bablv iicconnts for its occasional name, crackleberry. An- 

 other, and in some sections, commoner 

 name is whortleberry, said to come from 

 the old Saxon heort-berg- or hart's berry, 

 from which our hurtleberry and huckle- 

 berry are in turn a corruption. How 

 much interesting histfjry may be wrapped 

 up in a homely name ! The fruit of the 

 huckleberry is one of the regular market 

 berries of late summer. It shows 

 numerous varieties varying to blue (blue 

 huckleberry) with a heavy bloom and 

 with leaves either green on both sides or 

 with a bluish bloom. Various shades 

 of scarlet and crimson develop in the 

 autumn foliage of this plant and add an 

 aesthetic charm to its commerciel value. 



Huckleberry. 

 Fruiting branch, X 



THE BLUEBERRIES. 



There are some eight kinds of blueberry found in Vermont. 

 Three of these, however, are rare, being practically confined to 

 the alpine summits of the higher mountains ; but the other five 

 furnish fruit to the berry picker in one or another section of 

 the state. It will suffice the purpose of any except the mountain 

 climbing botanist to distinguish these five as listed in the key 

 below. While none of these are cultivated for their fruit, large 

 quantities of blueberries are gathered from the wild native plants. 

 Attempts to cultivate blueberries have led to encouraging re- 

 sults in a few cases, the best returns being obtained with the 

 common high-bush form^. 



* Anyone contemplating engaging in this industry should acquaint 

 himself with the publications of Prof. W. M. Munson. See especially 

 Me. Sta. Bui. 76 (1901). 



