GROWING THE CULTIVATED BLUEBERRY 



571 



COMMUNITY STUDIES 



1. Prepare a brief covering the life history and control methods of 

 white pine blister rust. 



2. From this point follow the outline under local studies for the 

 brambles. 



3. On what age of wood is fruit borne — the best fruit? Prune at least 

 two currant and two gooseberry bushes. 



SECTION III. GROWING THE CULTIVATED BLUEBERRY 



Growing blueberries under cultivation is a comparatively 

 new practice. Unlike most of our common fruits, unimproved 

 strains of wild blueberries are sold in direct competition with 

 the cultivated varieties. Cultivated fruit may, however, be 

 found on almost any wholesale market in Northeastern United 

 States. Both the high- and low-bush forms of the blueberry 

 or huckleberry, as it is sometimes called, are found growing 

 wild in Northeastern United States as well as in Florida, 

 Michigan, Illinois, and to some extent along the West Coast. 



The fruit is used in the fresh state, but one of its chief 

 values is for blueberry pie, a luxury that to foreign tables 

 typifies American cooking. 



Under the supervision of Dr. Coville, the United States De- 

 partment of Agriculture began collecting wild strains in 1906. 

 By cooperating with experienced pickers in blueberry districts, 

 and with the owners of large patches, he was able to select 

 several plants which possessed desired qualities. He looked for 

 stiffness of branch, ease of picking, small dry stem scars, 

 flavor, seedlessness, and keeping qualities. By controlled 

 breeding and selecting he eventually concentrated as many as 

 possible of these qualities in a single plant. At one time 

 three hundred seedlings which were producing fruit larger 

 than % inch in diameter were destroyed because they lacked 

 some of the other desired qualities. As a result of this work 

 we have about ten good varieties. Although some of them are 

 not so sweet as some wild strains, as a group they constitute 



