Huckleberries or Blueberries 377 



The resulting sauce is richer but altogether different from that of the 

 blueberries. It is found abundantly along the New England coast 

 but does not appear to be highly prized. Late in the season much 

 of the fruit becomes wormy. Another objection to the fruit of this 

 genus is found in the little, hard, sharp-edged nutlets, which give 

 the fruit a seedy character. The smaller the fruit the more notice- 

 able this becomes, since there are ten of these stone-like seeds in 

 each berry. 

 VACCINIUM PENNSYLVANICUM, Lam. Low or Dwarf Blueberry. 



This is a low-growing shrubby little plant, seldom over a foot 

 in height, with green, angular or warty branches. The leaves are 

 bristly serrulate, smooth and shining on both sides, and the flowers 

 are white or pale pink. The fruit is sweet and fine flavored, com- 

 monly blue with a glaucous bloom, though forms with nearly black 

 fruit sometimes occur. 



This is the earliest of the huckleberries to ripen, and one of the 

 finest. It is not so firm as the preceding species, but with careful 

 handling may be carried long distances, and is extensively sold in 

 market. It is found upon dry, rocky hillsides and mountains from 

 New Jersey to Illinois, and northward to Newfoundland and the 

 Saskatchewan. It has not yielded readily to the demands of culti- 

 vation. The best results have ordinarily come from simply improv- 

 ing its natural conditions. A dwarf form of it, var. angustifolium, 

 Gray, occurs in New England to Newfoundland. 

 VACCINIUM CANADENSE, Kalm. 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. pennsyl- 

 vanicum. 



The species occurs in swamps and moist woods from Newfound- 

 land 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 pre- 

 ceding species is exhausted. 



