SOME WILD AMERICAN FRUITS 



THAT WOULD REWARD CULTIVATION. 



O ONE who has visited the upper 

 peninsula of Michigan, where 

 many square miles are literally 

 covered with blueberry bushes, 

 and has gathered and feasted 

 on the large, luscious berries, 

 ranging from one-half to five- 

 eighths of an inch in diameter, 

 can doubt that this fruit offers 

 great possibilities for cultivation. What the re- 

 quirements are can be determined only by experi- 

 ment. A study of the various species in their habitat 

 makes it evident that the method for the success- 

 ful cultivation of one would result in failure with 

 another. Here are some species to which it might 

 be profitable to give more attention. 



The black huckleberry [Gayhissacia i-i'sinosa) grows in 

 dry, hilly, sandy woods. There are several varieties, 

 both round and pear-shaped, some with very large fruit, 

 fair in quality, but their large seeds will probably pre- 

 vent their cultivation. 



The high blue huckleberry (G . fiondosa), also called 

 high blueberry or dangleberry, grows in the open woods 

 three to five feet high. Quality very good. 



The blueberries deserve more attention than the huck- 

 leberries, being of better quality. The billberry ( Vac- 

 cinium ccespitosutii) bears a large, globose, blue, finely 

 flavored berry, growing on a bush three to six inches 

 high, found in the far north in sandy or rocky localities. 

 The Canadian blueberry ( T'. Cattadeiise) grows, in dry, 

 rocky, arid and sandy locations, throughout most of the 

 northern portion of this country. In some localities it 

 bears an abundance of blue, finely-flavored berries ; in 

 others it is a shy bearer. 



The common low blueberry [^V. Peunsylvaniciim') in- 

 cludes some of the finest varieties, It is six to twelve 

 inches high, growing in sandy or rocky localities in 

 northern and northeastern sections. Growing in dense 

 patches, it is by far the most abundant variety in the up- 

 per peninsula. The berries often exceed half an inch 

 in diameter, are usually blue and of delicious flavor. 



The finest I have met with might properly be called 

 black blueberry. Some botanists consider it to be a va- 

 riety of V. Pennsylvaniciim, but I am not yet satisfied 

 as to species. It usually grows three to six inches high. 

 The berries are the largest of the genus, round, black, 

 and of a rich and delicious flavor. They are almost too 

 tender to ship long distances. To enjoy it to perfection 

 one must visit its native haunts. It grows in a region of 

 considerable rainfall, on dry, sandy plains, in light. 



loamy soil. Many thousands of bushels of this and the 

 preceding kinds are gathered in the upper peninsula 

 every year. If the proper method could be found for 

 cultivating them in localities where they are not native, 

 I believe they would be of great value to fruit-growers. 



V. vacillans is a larger shrub, with a smaller bluish 

 black sweet berry. It is found farther south than the 

 preceding, but is inferior in quality. 



The species previously mentioned usually grows in dry 

 localities, in soils having good drainage, containing plenty 

 of leaf-mold, and is usually found where there is an 

 abundance of rainfall. Sometimes I have found them 

 growing on the tops of rocky peaks, where very little 

 soil had lodged in depressions and crevices. 



The next species, the common high blackberry {V. 

 coryinbosiim') is peculiar to swamps, being rarely found 

 on higher lands. It grows five to ten feet high, and bears 

 black or purplish berries of subacid flavor. Its quality 

 is inferior to that of the low blueberry and the black 

 species, still it seems to be the most promising for those 

 who may attempt to cultivate these fruits. It is often 

 found growing in water six inches to two feet deep, but 



wm 



Japan Pear — Strong. (See page 86.) 



sometimes it is met in fairly dry locations. It always 

 grows where the soil is black, rich and mucky. When 

 found in dryer locations there is usually a considerable 

 mixture of sand. I think it likely that the soil adapted 



