20 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 358 



9. A terminal shoot growth of about ten inches was most favorable. Any 

 increase in length up to ten inches increased yield. Longer shoots were apt to 

 be too v^egetative for maximum production. 



These observations are the basis for the following improvement program: 



Fir.st, remove all trees and bushes tall enough to shade the blueberries. This 

 will often supply the winter's wood, thus making the labor serve a double purpose. 

 If valuable timber trees are present, the owner must choose between blueberries 

 and timber. The mowing of low bushes growing with the blueberries helps also. 



Second, prune the blueberry bushes in winter or earl^^ spring before growth 

 starts. Take out all dead wood first, then some of the oldest stems, cutting them 

 off four or five inches from the ground. This can be done best with long-handled 

 lopping shears. 



Third, fertilize the bushes. Apply 200 pounds of nitrate of soda per acre, or 

 some other nitrogenous fertilizer at a rate to give a like amount of nitrogen. 



Fourth, select and tag the more productive bushes and give them special 

 attention. 



Literature 



1. Beckwith, C. S., Stanley Coville, and C. A. Doehlert. Blueberry culture. 



N. J. Agr. E.xpt. Sta. Circ. 229. 1937. 

 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. Exp. Sta. Bui. 276. 1933. 



4. Diggers, B. F. Notes on the life history and habits of 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 blueberr\ . Mich. 

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



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

 Agr. E.xpt. 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. 



10. Wilcox, M. S. Phomopsis twig blight of blueberry. Phytopath. 29:136-142 

 1939. 



Publication of this DocaME.VT Approved by Com.mission on .•\dviinistr.\tion .-vnd Fi> 

 5m-3-'39. No. 6746. 



