498 BUSH-FRUITS 



and pleasant, with a slight acidity, dark blue with a bluish white 

 bloom, and ripening late. 



The species is found along the Atlantic coast from New Eng- 

 land to Florida and westward to Kentucky and Louisiana. In New 

 England it is said to occur only near the coast. By some this is 

 considered very promising for cultivation. It grows more readily 

 under culture than the following species, but at the Arnold Arbor- 

 etum, and in that locality generally, it is said to be unproductive.* 



GAYLUSSACIA RESINOSA (Ait.), Torr. & Gray. Black Huckleberry. 



This is a much branched, rigid shrub, from 1 to 3 feet high. 

 Its flowers are dull, reddish yellow, and borne in short, one- 

 sided racemes or clusters. The fruit is sweet, crisp and firm, 

 shiny black, without bloom. A white-fruited variety is occasion- 

 ally found, and others are reported having pear-shaped berries, 

 bluish fruit, or that which is covered with a bloom. 



This species is found in open woods, on dry, rocky hills, and in 

 swamps, from Newfoundland to Georgia, and westward to Minne- 

 sota and the Saskatchewan. It is the common black huckleberry 

 of the market, and is well adapted to commercial purposes, owing 

 to its firmness and consequent shipping qualities. It is more diffi- 

 cult to start and transplant than some of the other species, which 

 is a serious disadvantage to the cultivator. 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 noticeable this becomes, since there are ten of these 

 stone -like seeds in each fruit. I am told that this species is often 

 greatly injured by insect Iarva3 working within the fruit, especially 

 late in the season. 



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, commonly 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 exten- 

 sively sold in market. It is found upon dry, rocky hillsides and 

 mountains from New Jersey to Illinois, and northward to New- 

 foundland and the Saskatchewan. It has not yielded readily to 

 the demands of cultivation. The best results have ordinarily 

 come from simply improving its natural conditions. 



* Garden and Forest 7:328. 



