20 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 317 



the fruit buds are borne on the terminal third of the shoots, any increase in 

 length up to ten inches increased yields. Shoots making a growth of over ten 

 inches were apt to be too vegetative for maximum production. 



These observations furnish the basis for the following improvement program: 



First, remove from the blueberry land all trees and any bushes which grow 

 high enough to shade the blueberries. The winter's wood supply can often be 

 cut on the blueberry land, thus making the labor serve a double purpose. If 

 trees valuable as timber are present, the owner will have to choose between 

 more blueberries and more timber. If time permits, it will help to mow the low 

 bushes which are growing in with the blueberries. 



Second, prune the blueberry bushes. This should be done in winter or early 

 spring before growth starts. Take out all dead wood first, then remove some of 

 the oldest branches, cutting them off about four or five inches from the ground. 

 This can be done to best advantage with a pair of heavy, long-handled lopping 

 shears. 



Third, fertilize the bushes. Until further information is available, a nitroge- 

 nous fertilizer is recommended. Apply nitrate of soda at the rate of 200 pounds 

 per acre, or some other nitrogenous fertilizer at a rate which will give an equiva- 

 lent amount of nitrogen. 



Fourth, select and tag the more productive bushes and give them more atten- 

 tion when pruning and fertilizing. 



Literature 



1. Beckwith, C. S. and Stanley Coville. Blueberry culture. N. J. Agr. Expt. 

 Sta. Circ. 229. 1931. 



2. Beckwith, C. S. and C. A. Doehlert. Fertilizer and tillage for blueberries. 

 N. J. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bui. 558. 1933. 



3. Crowley, D. J. Observations and experiments with blueberries in western 

 Washington. Wash. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bui. 276. 1933. 



4. Diggers, B. F. Notes on the life history and habits ol the blueberry stem 

 borer, Oberea myops Hald., on cultivated blueberries. Jour. N. Y. Ent. 

 Soc. 37: 67-74. 1929. 



5. Franklin, H. J. Cape Cod cranberry insects. Mass. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bui. 

 239: 54-62. 1928. 



6. Johnston, Stanley. The propagation of the highbush blueberry. Mich. 

 Agr. Expt. Sta. Spec. Bui. 202. 1930. 



7. Johnston, Stanley. The cultivation of the highbush blueberry. Mich. 

 Agr. Expt. Sta. Spec. Bui. 252. 1934. 



8. Phipps, C. R. Blueberry and huckleberry insects. Maine Agr. Expt. Sta. 

 Bui. 356. 1930. 



9. Ware, L. M. Propagation studies with the southern blueberry. Miss. Agr. 

 Expt. Sta. Bui. 280. 1930. 



Publication of this Document Approved by Commission on Administration and Finance 

 3m. 5 '36. No. 7768. 



