104 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



perhaps submerged in winter and spring, are exposed to the air 

 during the root-forming period of summer and autumn or, when 

 growing in permanently submerged places, they build up a hum- 

 mock or a cushion of moss which rises above the summer water 

 level and within which the feeding roots of the bush are closely 

 interlaced. In actual culture, moreover, it has been found that 

 the swamp blueberry does not thrive in a permanently wet or 

 soggy soil. 



Although some species of Vaccinium, such as the common low- 

 bush blueberry of the northeastern United States, ['. ancjustifolium 

 (called V. i)cnnsyhanicum by some authors), grow and fruit abun- 

 dantly in sandy uplands that are subject to drought, the swamp 

 blueberry grows best in soils naturally or artificially supplied with 

 adequate moisture. 



These, then, are the three fundamental requirements of successful 

 blueberry culture: (1) An acid soil, especially one composed of peat 

 and sand; (2) good drainage and thorough aeration of the surface 

 soil; and (3) permanent but moderate soil moisture. Under such 

 conditions the beneficial root fungus which is believed to be essen- 

 tial to the nutrition of the plant need give the cultivator no con- 

 cern, for even if the necessary fungus were wholly lacking in the 

 soil of the new plantation each healthy bush set out in it would 

 bring its own supply of soil-inoculation material. 



Next in importance to soil conditions is a convenient location 

 with reference to a good market. The berries should reach their 

 destination without delay, preferably early in the morning following 

 the day of picking. To secure the best prices they should also 

 reach the market about the beginning of the main wild-blueberry 

 season. A situation to the south of the great areas of wild blue- 

 berries in northern New England, Canada, and northern Michigan 

 is therefore desirable. One of the most promising districts for 

 blueberry culture is the cranberry region of New Jersey, for there 

 an ideal soil occurs in conjunction with an early maturing season 

 and excellent shipping facilities to the markets of Philadelphia, 

 New York," and Boston. 



Situations liable to late spring freezes, such as the bottoms of 

 valleys, should be avoided, for while the blueberry plant itself is 

 seldom injured by freezing, its crop of fruit is often destroyed in 

 this wav. 



