366 Bush-Fruits 



permanently covered with water. Some species of low 

 blueberries thrive on dry, rocky hillsides, but Vaccinium 

 corymbosum, the one best adapted to garden culture, de- 

 mands a soil with an abundant moisture supply. 



Coville sums up the fundamental requirements of suc- 

 cessful blueberry culture in the following words. " (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." He 

 adds that with these conditions present, the root fungus 

 will care for itself, since enough will be carried by the roots 

 of the plant when set, to supply all needs. 



With a knowledge of these essentials, it is evident that 

 commercial ventures in the culture of this fruit should 

 be undertaken only where these conditions prevail nat- 

 urally. Late frosts are dangerous, particularly so because 

 this type of soil conditions is likely to occur in locations es- 

 pecially subject to frost. Flooding is suggested as a possi- 

 ble means of preventing frosts, where conditions permit it. 



Soil mixture 



For use in propagation, and in starting plants in the 

 field in a small way, where the needed soil conditions do 

 not exist naturally, the following mixture is advised: 

 1 part of clean sand, 9 parts of upland peat, either chopped 

 or sifted, and 3 parts of broken flower-pots. If the latter 

 are not available, more sand or sand and gravel should be 

 used. No loam, lime, nor manure should be used. Man- 

 ure is thought to injure the friendly root-fungus. 



The peat best suited to the purpose is that found in 

 thickets of mountain laurel, clumps of low blueberries, or 



