IDENTIFICATION OF BLUEBERRY VARIETIES 15 



Pairs of Similar Varieties 



Certain pairs of varieties loolc mucii alike in many of tiieir cfiaracters, especially 

 such as are available in the nursery, and are, therefore, difficult to distinguish. 

 In the following paragraphs, ways are given for separating these pairs. 



JERSEY - STANLEY 



Although Jersey and Stanley look very much alike in the nursery, there are 

 two characters by which they can be separated. In the spring and again in the 

 early fall the leaves of Stanley develop a bluish green hue that is not apparent 

 on the leaves of Jersey. While this difference is helpful, a more reliable one, 

 which is always apparent, is the presence or absence of pubescence on the leaves. 

 Jersey has no pubescence; Stanley has slight to moderate pubescence along the 

 top of the midrib. 



WAREHAM -- HARDING 



The mature bushes of these two varieties are not difficult to distinguish. Ware- 

 ham makes a vigorous, upright, slightly drooping growth; Harding a less vigorous, 

 lower, more spreading growth. Howe\'er, among young plants the differences 

 between these two varieties are so small that this pair is one of the most difficult 

 to separate in the nursery. Shoot pubescence is a little heavier on Harding. On 

 the other hand, the netting of the veins is a little more prominent on Wareham 

 leaves and they are sometimes somewhat rugose. In the fall, the veins of Ware- 

 ham usually turn red earlier than those of Harding. The tip leaves of Wareham 

 appear to be erect; those of Harding do not. 



CONCORD - RUBEL 



These two varieties are not so nearly alike as the preceding pairs, but they 

 have been found mixed in the nursery. The Concord leaf is narrow elliptic; the 

 Rubel, elliptic. The base angle of Concord is narrow; Rubel is medium. The 

 apex angle of Concord is medium; that of Rubel is narrow. The Concord leaf 

 is flat and waved; the Rubel leaf flat to broadh' V-folded. The leaf surface of 

 Concord is smooth to slightly rugose; that of Rubel essentially smooth, sometimes 

 slightly bullate or slightly netted. The leaf margin of Concord is reflexed to 

 rolled; that of Rubel is only slightly reflexed. The tip leaves of Concord are 

 spreading; those of Rubel erect. 



ATLANTIC - BURLINGTON 



Although these varieties are not too much alike, they are new and have been 

 mixed in the nursery. Therefore, they deserve special attention. The leaves of 

 Atlantic are oval to ovate with a length/width ratio of less than 2. Also, there 

 are on most plants some almost round leaves making two distinct t\pes, which is 

 peculiar to this variety. Burlington leaves are elliptic with a length/width ratio 

 of 2. Atlantic leaves are flat to broadly U-folded and slightly wavy. Also, some 

 leaves have a distinctly twisted midrib (Figure 5). Burlington leaves are saucer- 

 to broadly V-folded. Atlantic leaves are sometimes pockmarked; Burlington 

 leaves are not. Burlington leaves have a stifi^ness and sometimes a marked bluish 

 bloom neither of which are apparent on Atlantic. 



