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BLUEBEEIRY VARIETIES 



The most important question varietywise that growers must answer is "shall 

 I plant any of the 'Big Six'?" We have been recommending them for trial and a few 

 growers are trying them, but plantings are still not extensive. However, as a 

 group, they look more promising all the time. 



Earliblue is the best early variety produced so far. It will be a good 

 replacement for Weymouth, Cabot and June. 



Ivanhoe was one of the original "Big Six". It is a second early to follow 

 Earliblue. When it was introduced, it was recommended for North Carolina and 

 suggested for trial farther north. At the Cranberry Station it has never been 

 overly vigorous and crops have been light. One grower in a very favorable sit- 

 uation has been fairly successful with it. Its value in Massachusetts is 

 questionable, especially since the introduction of Blueray. 



Blueray was introduced in October 1955. Only a few trial plantings have 

 been made in Massachusetts. The berries are very large, attractive and fine 

 flavored. Its outstanding characteristic is frost resistance. This character 

 alone should make it worthy of extensive trial. It ripens in Ivanhoe season 

 and will probably replace that variety. 



Bluecrop produces very large, attractive, light blue, fine flavored berries. 

 Where it has been tried, it appears to be a heavy producer. 



Berkeley looks better all the time. The berries are very large, attractive 

 and mild flavored. The bush is vigorous and productive. This variety has un- 

 usually good consumer acceptance because of its mild flavor which more nearly 

 resembles that of the native wild lowbush berries so dear to the New Englander's 

 heart . 



Herbert produces extremely large berries which are somewhat flattened and 

 tend to be slightly five sides. The bush is turning out to be more upright and 

 vigorous than first trials indicated. 



Coville is slowly gaining in grower favor. The bush is vigorous and pro- 

 ductive. The fruit is large and medium blue. The main objection has been its 

 tartness. Since the berries hang to the bush well, this objection can be over- 

 come by leaving the berries on the bush till they are thoroughly ripe. When 

 this is done the tartness disappears and the berries have an uausually fine 

 flavor. Growers who have tried leaving them on the bush report that consumers 

 come back and want more of them. 



One grower, who likes to experiment, is trying Murphy and Wolcott, These 

 two varieties together with Angola were introduced for use in North Carolina 

 because of their resistance to stem canker. It is doubtful if they will be of 

 much value in Massachusetts. 



J, S, Bailey 



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