Agricultural Research in New Hampshire 47 



To increase our own number of improved blueberries, a number of 

 hardwood cuttings were placed in propagation frames. Two years ago 

 attempts to root hardwood blueberry cuttings with the iMaine peat were 

 disappointing. However, trials repeated last year, loosening up the State 

 of Maine peat with mixtures of sand, brought better results. This year 

 sand was again used to loosen the peat, with indications of a fairly good 

 stand of cuttings. (W. W. Smith) 



Establishment and Development of 

 Lowbush Blueberries 



Work on this project was begun last fall to determine the satisfactory 

 procedure for establishing and maintaining blueberry plants on abandoned 

 farm land. Areas of thick gray birch and young pine under which 

 blueberry bushes could be seen growing were cleared during the winter 

 and burned over this spring, and a fairly good stand of lowbush blue- 

 berries resulted. Similar areas cleared of wood but not burned are being 

 used for comparison, and studies are being made of these two areas to 

 determine the ecological diseases and insect changes due to the different 

 treatments. Areas in abandoned fields were plowed and blueberry fruits 

 spread on these areas. Various techniques were used in an attempt to 

 start young plants from fruits. On other areas the plants, including the 

 rhizomes and underground roots and stems, were disked into the soil 

 in an attempt to establish the young plants. In other areas furrows were 

 made in which the young plants and pieces of rhizomes were laid and the 

 furrow turned back. The furrow technique of transplanting was re- 

 peated again this spring. In both cases most of the plants remained alive 

 and seemed to be doing well. In none of the fruit treatments is there 

 any indication of plant growth. 



Observations of the burnover areas indicate that three stages may be 

 obtained: (1) Burning so lightly the stems are not killed but only in- 

 jured around the base. These plants will continue to have fruit the fol- 

 lowing year, but will be in a weakened condition and may have red 

 foliage. (2) Burning hot enough to kill the stems but not the crown, so 

 that new shoots come out from the crown. This is the usual type of 

 burning. (3) Burning enough to injure the crown, in which case under- 

 ground stems shoot out to form new shoots. This type of burning may 

 greatly improve the spreading of the plant or clone. 



Observations on blueberry plantings indicated that those plantings 

 which suffered most from drought last summer are the ones which were 

 injured by the cold during the winter. (W. W. Smith) 



Strawberry Breeding Tests 



In 1940 eight wild strawberries were transplanted from the field to 

 the Horticultural Farm. These berries were selected as having superior 

 flavor, size, and vigor of plants, as well as a good set of fruit in the 

 cluster. One of these, a perfect-flowered form which is rare in the wild 

 strawberry, has been propagated for breeding purposes. 



In 1940 some of the best wild fruits were saved and the seeds planted. 

 These plants were transplanted to the field in 1941. In 1942 it was found 

 that a large percentage of the pistillate blossom plants produced a large 

 crop of good-sized wild fruit. 



