36 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



grow sufficient fruit for his own use. In many parts of the 

 county, particularly in the hills about Caribou, Washburn and 

 Presque Isle, there are excellent opportunities for commercial 

 orchards, but only the hardiest, "iron-clad" varieties will survive. 

 A windbreak is an absolute requisite of success, but with this 

 protection some varieties of special value may be grown. At 

 the present time no varieties of plum or cherry have been found 

 which are sufficiently hardy to withstand the climate without 

 winter protection. One or two of the Russian cherries — partic- 

 ularly Griotte du Nord — are, however, promising for home con- 

 sumption. Even the Mooers' Arctic plum, which originated at 

 Ashland, is of uncertain hardiness unless top worked upon the 

 "Canada" plum and laid down each winter. 



BLUEBERRIES. 



The blueberries of America have been strangely overlooked 

 alike by horticulturists, and by historians ; yet there are no less 

 than six or seven distinct species which furnish fruit of consider- 

 able value, and as many more which, though of less importance, 

 produce fruit which may be eaten. 



Despite the great use that must have been made of the berries 

 by the Indians and by the colonists in New England, there are 

 but few records referring to this fruit. We learn that Cham- 

 plain, as early as 161 5, found the Indians near Lake Huron 

 gathering blueberries for their winter store, and Roger Williams 

 mentions "Attitaash (Wortleberries) of which there are divers 

 sorts, sweet like currants." Aside from two or three minor 

 references, these are about the only records, extant, except in 

 the various botanies and floras published since the beginning of 

 the present century. 



Doubtless the reason for this apparent neglect is largely due 

 to the abundance and excellence of the wild plants. There 

 seemed to be no reason for the exertion incident to cultivation 

 in order to procure a liberal supply of fruit. 



In New York and in Michigan abortive attempts at cultiva- 

 tion have been made. At the Arnold Aboretum, in Massachu- 

 setts, Jackson Dawson has grown many seedlings and has 

 learned some valuable lessons regarding methods of culture. At 

 the present time, however, there is practically no systematic 



