BLUEBERRY CULTURE 



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Figure 10. Mummy Berry Disease, Caused by a Species of Sclerolinia. 



Phomopsis gall is due lo a different species cf Phomopsis frcni that causing 

 the twig blight. It was formerh- mistaken fcr crcwn gall, a bacterial disease. 

 It appears as knotty swellings on the stem cr branches (Fig. 11). It has been 

 observed on several varieties, but Cabot, Ccnccrd, and Ranrccas are the mcst 

 susceptible. Wet soil favors it more than drier situations. It is spread by using 

 cuttings from infected plants and is, therefore, mainly a nursery trouble. It 

 can be eradicated by persistently removing and burning diseased bushes. 



Witches broom, which gets its name from the type of growth it induces (Fig. 12), 

 is caused by Calyptospora columnaris, a rust fungus. It is perennial, but not 

 serious, on both highbush and lowbush blueberries. This disease dees not spread 

 from blueberry to blueberry. It must infect an alternate host, the balsam fir, 

 from which it spreads to the blueberry again. Its spread on an infected plant 

 can be stopped by cutting off the diseased branch several inches belcw the affected 

 part. 



Birds, particularly robins and starlings, are among the worst pests of culti- 

 vated blueberries. They often take a large part of the crop in small plantings. 

 Their depredations are not so marked in large fields. Inflated paper bags hung 

 on strings so they will dance in the wind help keep birds awav. 



Harvesting and Marketing 



Since the sale of cultivated blueberries at good prices depends on their at- 

 tractiveness, they must be picked carefully. They must be neither too green 

 nor too ripe. The stem end of ripe berries has a dark, rich blue color. A reddish 

 tinge there indicates immaturity. Underripe fruit is sour and lacks blueberry 

 flavor. Picking should be done every six or seven days. If done oftener than 

 this, too many underripe berries are picked. If let go longer, there are too many 

 overripe ones. Since the light blue bloom, which covers the berries and adds 

 greatly to their appearance is easily rubbed off, they should not be handled much. 

 They should be picked directly into the containers in which they are sold. For 

 this reason one should hire pickers who can be relied on to grade well as they 

 pick. Also they must have adequate supervision. 



