6 MASS EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 358 



The bush is tall, upright, well shaped, vigorous, and easy to propagate and prune. 

 Because of less competition from the South, this is one of the most profitable 

 varieties in this State. 



Cabot, for those wanting an early variety, ripens a week to ten days ahead of 

 Pioneer. The berries are large, fair flavored, and good shippers. The plants are 

 low, spreading, and not so vigorous as those of Pioneer and Rubel. They are 

 hard to propagate, costly to prune, and very susceptible to Phomopsis gall. 

 They yield fairly well. 



The following varieties are recommended for trial: 



Stanley is a very promising mid-season variety. The fruit is large, handsome, 

 and excellent in flavor. The bush is upright, vigorous, producti\e, and easy to 

 propagate and prune. 



Jersey ripens with Rubel. The bush is very vigorous, productive, and easy 

 to propagate and prune, but does not sprout from the base as freely as is desirable. 

 The berries have good color, size, and keeping quality, and good flavor when well 

 ripened. The stems are long, making the cluster so open that the berries are 

 easily picked. The calyx lobes protrude, detracting somewhat from the appear- 

 ance of the fruit. 



Wareham is a promising variety ripening a week after Rubel. The bush grows 

 vigorously, is easy to propagate and prune, and yields heavily. The berries 

 develop to good size throughout the season, keep fairly well, and have good 

 flavor, but are less attractive than the fruit of some varieties because of their 

 dark color. 



Propagation 



An ordinary cold frame makes a satisfactory propagating frame. About six 

 inches of propagating medium is necessary and it should be leveled. The best 

 medium is a mixture of about equal parts by volume of sphagnum peat and sand. 

 Since American peats vary, unless one known to be good for propagating can be 

 obtained, it is better to use imported peat of the grade GPM. Peat must be wet 

 before use. It is hard to wet with cold water but hot water wets it easily. A 

 quarter inch of clear sand over the bed reduces weed trouble and facilitates 

 watering. A wire screen placed under the bed prevents root injury by grubs. 



The successful handling of the propagating bed depends on the proper control 

 of five factors: aeration of the propagating medium, moisture in the propagating 

 medium, humidity in the propagating frame, light, and temperature. The first 

 three are closely associated and practically are controlled together. 



Lack of aeration in the propagating medium, because it is too compact or too 

 wet, causes the cuttings to rot at the base and die. Aeration is sufficient if there 

 is good drainage below the propagating bed to eliminate excess water and if there 

 is ventilation over the bed. Watering should be heavy when it is necessary. 

 Enough moisture will be held in the propagating medium to keep the cuttings 

 from drying out and to assure proper humidity ov^er the bed. 



It is important to maintain humidity over the propagating bed because of the 

 nature of the rooting process with blueberry cuttings. Since they make a top 

 growth before they develop roots, the air above the bed must be moist to prevent 

 the new growth from wilting. Humidity can be maintained by using glass sash 

 over the beds; but unless constant attention is paid to ventilation, the prop- 

 agating medium may become water-.soaked. 



The propagating bed must be kept from becoming too hot by shading and 

 ventilation. When the cuttings have grown leaves, they begin to make food for 

 themselves if they have light enough. Therefore, they should be given all the light 



