-5- 



Before ordering the new plants, let's take a look at the site and make sure 

 nothing is basically wrong. la it too wet? Can this be corrected by drainage? 

 Is it too dry? Can this be overcaiie by irrigation? Is it subject to cold injury 

 either in -winter or spring? Is a better site available? If the decision is to 

 replant, then the |)6l4. question is what variety or varieties to plant* 



It is not the purpose to discuss varieties here since this has already been 

 done in a previous issue of Fruit Notes o Hovrever, a few general comments may not 

 be amiss. Few growers vrould consider replanting such old varieties as Cabot, Con- 

 cord, or Pioneer, On the other hand, there are some commercial grovrers who have 

 stated that they would replant Rubel because of its dependability, V/hen a new 

 variety proves that it can yield more "greenbacks" per acre than Rubel, or any 

 other variety, then is the time for replacement. Replacing a tried and proven 

 variety because of its age by one that is new and untried is questionable. Among 

 the new varieties Berkeley and Coville have performed well in Massachusetts over 

 a long enough period so that they are being recommended for commercial planting, 

 Tliey will not quite replace Rubel because they are not the same season. On the 

 other hand, Earliblue, Blueray, Bluecrop, and Herbert, Yihile they look promisijig, 

 have not had an opportunity to really prove themselves under iiassachusetts condi- 

 tions* They are recomQioended for trial only until they do, 



iiihere new land is planted to blueberries, there is no past to serve as a 

 guide. The site factors must have more careful consideration. The variety sel- 

 ection problem is similar except that a grower who has a considerable area in 

 profitable production may feel that he can aiford to gamble more heavily on the 

 new and unproved varieties. 



The testing of nevj- varieties is very important and should have a place in a 

 planting plan wherever possible. In the last analysis, it is the growers' 

 judgement that determines v;hether a variety has a short or long life. Good 

 jmgement is based on personal experience with a variety. 



Finally, let common sense determiiie when to replant your blueberries, not 

 fancy descriptions in a catalogue, 



J. S. Bailey 



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19^7 FERTILIZER RECOTQ-IENDATIONS 



Most I'iclntosh orchards appear to have an abundance of fruit buds which with 

 favorable weather could produce an excessive crop in 19'ol ^ Our fertilizer program 

 should be directed toward the production of a medium sized crop of high quality 

 fruit. To help accomplish this goal v.e believe that nitrogen applications should 

 be reduced by one third to one half. It is particularly important to reduce 

 nitrogen applications in those blocks which have been heavily pruned or had a 

 light crop last year. In some cases it may be desirable to delay applying the 

 nitrogen application until after petal fall. Trees vfhich had only a partial crop 

 last year should have a considerable reserve of nitrogen available for utilization 

 this spring. 



