Va rieties 
A number of very good varieties of improved blueberries are now available. These ripen in suc¬ 
cession so that fruit is harvested over a period of from six to seven weeks. Following are brief variety 
notes: 
JUNE This is the earliest of the named varieties. It 
- is comparatively new but shows considerable 
promise. It ripens its berries together to such an extent 
that they are usually harvested in two pickings. The 
size and quality are good. 
CABOT The bush is low and spreading, while the 
fruit is large and of excellent quality. 
Ripens early and is a good variety of this season where 
winter cold and frost are not too severe. 
ADAMS While the fruit produced by this variety is 
■ not quite as large and attractive as Cabot, 
the bush is much larger, more upright, and more pro¬ 
ductive. It is a good commercial variety. 
PIONEER Matures 10 days to two weeks after 
- Cabot. The bush is spreading, fairly 
vigorous, hardy, and productive. The fruit is large, 
attractive in appearance, and of excellent quality. A 
very good midseason variety. 
CONCORD Matures about with Pioneer and re- 
■■ sembles that variety to some extent. 
The fruit is large and of good quality. It is one of the 
newer varieties and therefore is not as well known as 
some others. 
RUBEL Ripens about two weeks later than Cabot. 
---- Makes a vigorous, upright bush that is 
very productive. The berries are large, light blue, 
attractive and of good quality if allowed to mature 
properly. The berry is very firm and therefore an excel¬ 
lent shipper. Most widely grown midseason to late 
variety. 
RANCOCAS Matures with Rubel or a little earlier. 
-— The bush is vigorous, upright, and 
productive. The fruit is large, light blue, and of good 
quality. This is a promising new variety. 
JERSEY Matures about with Rubel or a little later. 
- The bush is upright and very vigorous. 
The fruit is large and very firm. This variety should be 
an excellent shipper. 
HARDING Begins to ripen with Rubel but con- 
- tinues somewhat later. The bush is of 
medium size and spreading. The berries are medium in 
size to large, dark in color, and of extra good quality. 
This variety has shown remarkable ability to withstand 
extreme drought conditions. It is also apparently hardy 
to winter cold and spring frosts. Due to lateness and 
ability to withstand adverse weather conditions it is of 
considerable value. 
Pollination 
Recent investigations in Michigan indicate that 
the standard varieties of blueberries will set fruit 
satisfactorily if planted alone. However, it is 
wise to set more than one variety in order to pro¬ 
vide for a longer producing season. 
Care of Plants When Received 
When plants are received they should be 
planted as soon as possible. In the meantime they 
should be placed in a shallow trench and the roots 
well covered with soil. They can be held in this 
manner for two or three weeks. They can also 
be held safely for several days in a cool cellar. 
Planting Suggestions 
Various planting distances have been used for 
the highbush blueberry. Ten feet by four feet has 
been a common distance in Michigan. Nine feet 
by five feet is also a good distance. For home 
planting, shorter distances can be used. Blueberry 
plants live many years under normal conditions 
and for commercial planting should not be 
crowded. 
The plants should be set a little deeper than 
they were in the nursery. The tops are usually 
pruned before shipping, but if not they should be 
reduced one-half. 
Cultural Suggestions 
Cultivation should be frequent enough to keep 
down weeds. The blueberry plant is very shallow- 
rooted and accordingly cultivation should be shal¬ 
low. As soon as the harvest has been completed 
a cover crop of oats or oats and buckwheat should 
be sown. 
Highbush blueberry plants in Michigan grow¬ 
ing on a soil well supplied with organic matter 
have not responded to applications of nitrogen. 
However, applications of superphosphate and 
sulphate of potash have been very beneficial. A 
mixture of 350 pounds of superphosphate and 150 
pounds of sulphate of potash are recommended 
for mature plantations on soils well supplied with 
organic matter. For poorer soils 175 pounds of 
nitrate of soda per acre should be added. Younger 
plantations should receive correspondingly small¬ 
er amounts. 
After the plants are four years old they will 
require systematic pruning each year if the large 
size of fruit is to be maintained. This pruning is 
largely confined to the removal of small wood 
throughout the plant. 
Insects and Diseases 
Fortunately insects and diseases have not been 
sufficiently serious to require a spraying program. 
