4 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 31? 



There is much land in the State suitable foi blueberry growing. The presence 

 of wild swamp blueberry, leatherleaf, cranberry, white cedar, or red maple in- 

 dicates a favorable soil. There are probably many abandoned cranberry bogs 

 in the southeastern part of the State that could be made into satisfactory blue- 

 berry fields. Low meadows are often suitable provided there is adequate air 

 and water drainage. Hillsides also may be used if the soil conditions are right. 

 Soils previously used for growing garden crops are usually unfit for blueberries 

 because they have been limed and are too nearly neutral. Such soil may be 

 made suitable by thoroughly mixing with it a large quantity (at least 1 bushel 

 per plant) of woodland turf, fallen leaves, or peat. 



Preparation of Land 



If the land has not been under cultivation, it must be cleared of all trees, 

 stumps, and bushes. If it is low and wet, it needs to be drained so that the water 

 table will be at least 14 inches below the surface at all times. Any low spots in 

 the field should be filled in or drained so that there will be no standing water at 

 any time during the growing season. 



After the field has been cleared and drained, it should be plowed deeply 

 enough to thoroughly mix the turf with the underlying soil, and disc harrowed 

 to pulverize and mix the soil well. The soil thus prepared may be allowed to 

 stand fallow for a year or used for a cultivated crop. This is much more im- 

 portant if a sod that might harbor white grubs has been plowed in, because the 

 grubs are very apt to injure the roots of the small plants after they are set. An 

 occasional discing while the land is lying fallow will put it in much better con- 

 dition and add to the chances of success with the plants. 



Selection of Varieties 



Although the blueberry is a new-comer among cultivated fruits, several de- 

 sirable varieties are already available. The ideal variety has a vigorous and 

 productive bush able to produce a heavy crop annually and at the same time 

 make abundant wood growth. An upright habit of growth is desirable to make 

 picking easy and to keep the berries from getting dirty. The bush must be easy 

 to prune, disease resistant, especially to the disease called mummy berry, and 

 hardy at low winter temperatures. 



The berries of the ideal variety are large and uniform in size, which they main- 

 tain throughout the season. Blue color, an abundance of bloom over the surface, 

 and pleasing flavor are desirable: good keeping and shipping quality are essen- 

 tial. The sepals, which remain adhering to the fruit, are small and closely 

 appressed to the skin. The skin is as thin and tender as possible without sacri- 

 ficing shipping quality. The berries hang to the bushes well but separate from 

 the stem readily enough to prevent tearing of the skin. 



The three varieties recommended for commercial planting are, in order of 

 ripening, Cabot, Pioneer, and Rubel. 



Cabot is an early variety, ripening from the first to the middle of July. The 

 berries are large in size, excellent in quality, and good shippers. The plants are 

 low and spreading and not as vigorous as Pioneer and Rubel. They are hard to 

 propagate and prune and are very susceptible to crown gall. Cabot will prob- 

 ably be less profitable in Massachusetts than the later varieties, because it is 



