BOTANY OF THE HUCKLEBERRIES 499 



VACCINIUM CANADENSE, Richards. Canadian Blueberry. 



This is a low shrub, 1 to 2 feet high, with light green wood, and 

 much resembling V. Pennsylvanicum. Its leaves are broader, 

 entire, and downy on both sides, the crowded branchlets being 

 also downy. The fruit is blue-black, ripening later than that of 

 V. Pennsylvanicum. 



The species occurs in swamps and moist woods from New- 

 foundland to the mountains of Pennsylvania, and westward to 

 Minnesota and the Rocky Mountains. It is primarily a northern 

 species, and not common in the United States except in northern 

 New England. From there and the Canadian provinces it is 

 sent to the Boston market in considerable quantities after the 

 home supply of the preceding species is exhausted. 



VACCINIUM VACILLANS, Kalm. Low or Pale Blueberry. 



This is a low, glabrous shrub, from 1 to 3 feet high, with yel- 

 lowish green stem and branchlets. The leaves are smooth and 

 very pale and glaucous, at least on the under side. The berries 

 are large and sweet, generally with a blue bloom, though some- 

 times black, ripening from the last of July to September. The 

 fruit is borne in clusters at the end of leafless branches of the 

 previous season's growth, and the plants are very prolific. 



The species occurs chiefly in dry and sandy soil, from New 

 England to Michigan and Iowa, and southward to Missouri and 

 North Carolina. Growing as it does in dry soils, being a pretty 

 little shrub for ornamental purposes, and a prolific bearer, with 

 fruit of fine quality, it is one of the species which would seem 

 to be most promising for cultivation. 



VACCINIUM CORYMBOSUM, Linn. Swamp Blueberry. High Huckle- 

 berry. (Fig. 111.) 



A tall, handsome shrub, from 4 to 10 feet high, with yellowish 

 green branches which turn to a light gray with age, the bark on 

 old stems becoming rough and peeling off in shreds. The leaves 

 are narrow, mostly egg-shaped, either smooth or downy. The 

 flowers are large, and borne on the extremities of the previous 

 year's growth, as in the preceding species. The fruit ripens 

 from August to the latter part of September, and is widely 

 variable in shape, size, color and flavor. 



The species varies greatly, and several botanical varieties have 

 been described. It grows chiefly in swamps and moist woods, 

 though sometimes found in dry, open pastures. It has a wide 

 distribution, occurring throughout the eastern half of North 

 America, from Newfoundland to Louisiana. It is probably the 

 most promising of all the huckleberries for cultivation. Experi- 

 ence has proved that it can be readily transplanted to garden 



