CONTROLLING INSECTS, DISEASES AND BIRDS 577 



back to stumps, about 2 inches long at the crown. This will 

 cause new shoots to start. Each year about a third of the 

 oldest wood is removed; thus none of the wood in the bush is 

 ever more than three or four years old. This is only a general 

 rule to follow. If heavy sprout growth takes place from the 

 old wood, a different type of pruning is advised. The low 

 branches are removed because the fruit may become dirty 

 from splashing soil during rains or from wind-blown debris. 

 Crowding branches in the 

 middle of the bush should 

 be removed. This will ex- 

 pose the fruiting wood to 

 more sunlight and give 

 more even ripening of the 

 fruit as well as easier 

 picking. 



The older and larger 

 blueberry bushes must 

 have considerable ^^tip- 

 ping'' donjB to the terminal 

 growth. The fruit buds 

 are much plumper than 

 the leaf buds. Each bud 

 wdll produce from eight to 

 fourteen berries, if prop- 

 erly pollinated. New 

 shoots do not need much 

 tipping back, but the laterals on the older branches should be 

 cut back to three or four fruit buds. 



If plants are neglected they will reach a stage where no 

 vigorous growth takes place. Cut back the entire top to the 

 crown in the spring. A new bush will grow that summer, and 

 the following year a crop of fruit will be borne. 



Prune in early spring. 



4. Controlling Insects, Diseases and Birds. If the bushes 

 are pruned annually and kept growing vigorously, there is 



(N. J. Agr. Exp. Sta.) 



Fig. 247. Cabot in bearing that has 

 not been pruned. Compare with 

 Fig. 246. 



