-5- 

 Diameter of Per.ch Peaches in Dushel 



2 3/8 inch 225 



2 1/2 inch -- - 190 



2 5/8 inch 165 



2 3/4 inch 145 



3 inch 110 



-W. J. Lord 



I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 



- MANURE FOR CULTIVATED BLUEBERRIES 



Can manure be used as fertilizer for cultivated blueberries? The simple 

 answer is yes. Manure is good fertilizer for blueberries but it must be used 

 with reason. It won't do to assume that if a little is good, more is better, 

 like the fellow who put a whole wheelbarrow load of manure on a single bush 

 and killed it. 



Fifteen years ago we carried on an experiment at Amherst using horse, 

 poultry and cow manure on bearing blueberry bushes. Horse manure was used 

 at the rate of 10 tons per acre and the other at such a rate as to give 

 about the same amount of nitrogen. The dire results predicted failed to 

 materialize. In fact, the manurial treatments were just as good as commer- 

 cial fertilizer, based on yield and size of fruit. 



Since horse and cow manure usually contain about the same amount of 

 nitrogen, they can be used at the same rate. Based on our experimental re- 

 sults, 10 tons per acre is safe for bearing bushes. For younger bushes the 

 rate should be less according to age and size of bush. Poultry manure or- 

 dinarily contains twice as much nitrogen as horse or cow manure. Therefore, 

 the rate needs to be halved. Five tons per acre is sufficient for bearing 

 bushes. 



No higher rates than 5 and 10 tons per acre were tried. Hence, we do 

 not know if the blueberries will stand more. If the manure were well rotted 

 and weathered, or had a high proportion of bedding or litter in it, bearing 

 bushes probably would stand more. 



Can well rotted manure be used in the planting hole? Possibly, if the 

 manure were well rotted and weathered so that it is nothing more than organic 

 material, but the practice is questionable. Manure, unless it has been well 

 rotted and weathered, contains much soluble nitrogen and can be damaging to 

 small plants in the S£une way that too much chemical fertilizer with soluble 

 nitrogen can injure small blueberry bushes. 



