182 Lessons in Fruit Growing. 



282. The dwarf juneberry. This fruit is allied botanic- 

 ally to the apple. It is extremely variable in the wild 

 state, and some of its varieties attain the size of a large 

 tree. The form that has been most cultivated (variety 

 oblongifolia) is a spreading shrub that commonW grows 

 about three feet high. The fruit resembles that of the 

 huckleberry in form and size, but is reddish-purple in color. 

 It ripens in June and July, is white-fleshed, and has a pleas- 

 ant but not strongly-marked flavor. Birds are extremely 

 fond of the fruit, which is one of the most serious obstacles 

 to its culture. 



283. The huffalO-berry. This shrub grows 3 to 6 feet 

 high, bears narrow, silvery leaves, small, dioecious flowers, 

 and scarlet, acid fruit about the size of huckleberries, ripen- 

 ing late in summer. It is little cultivated. 



284. The goumi is a low shrub, with grayish-green leaves, 

 inconspicuous flowers and small, scarlet, gold-speckled fruit 

 that ripens before midsummer. The fruit is too acid and 

 astringent for use in its fresh state, but is prized by some 

 for preserves. The plant is not sufiiciently hardy for north- 

 ern United States unless protected. Its seedlings are quite 

 delicate, and hence are rather difficult to grow to bearing 

 size. 



285. The huckleberry and blueberry. The fruit of sev- 

 eral species of the huckleberry and blueberry is rather ex- 

 tensively gathered from wild plants in parts of northern 

 United States and southern Canada. These fruits do not 

 seem adapted to ordinary methods of culture, but they may 

 prove amenable to a system resembling that employed for 

 the cranberry. Their intrinsic qualities certainly commend 

 them for market fruits. 



