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Varieties 
Several good varieties of improved blueberries 
are now available. They ripen in succession, pro- 
viding fruit over a period of nearly eight weeks. 
‘JUNE One of the earliest varieties. Ripens its 
berries in a short season. Berries of 
good size and quality. Difficult to propagate. 
Somewhat lacking in vigor and susceptible to 
leaf-spot in Michigan. 
“STANLEY Ripens in early-midseason. 
right, open bush. Berries are large 
and of exceptionally good flavor. Moderately 
productive. 
RUBEL Ripens about 14 to 18 days later than 
June. Vigorous, upright bush that is 
very productive. Berries are moderately large, 
light blue, attractive, and of good quality, if al- 
lowed to ripen thoroughly, but sour if picked too 
soon. The berry is very firm and therefore an 
excellent shipper. Most widely grown commer- 
cial variety. 
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. 
Up-' 
JERSEY Ripens a few days after Rubel. Bush 
semi-upright and very vigorous. 
Fruit large and firm, making it an excellent ship- 
per. A promising new variety of about the same 
season as Rubel. 
“ATLANTIC A new variety introduced by 
the U. S. D. A. Ripens about 
with Rubel. Large light blue fruit, good shipper. 
PEMBERTON New variety introduced by 
the U.S. D. A. Ripens about 
with Rubel. A very large, vigorous upright grow- 
ing bush with very large, hght blue berries. 
~BURLINGTON Another new U.S. D. A. in- 
troduetion, Ripens later 
than Rubel. A very productive bush and very 
good shipper. Should lengthen the season. 
The plants should be set a little deeper than 
they were in the nursery. The tops are usually 
pruned before shipping, but 1f not they should be 
reduced one-half. 
Two-year-old plants are best for Spring plant- 
ing. Three-year-olds for Fall planting. 
Cultural Suggestions 
The blueberry plant is very shallow rooted and 
accordingly, cultivation should be shallow. It 
should be frequent enough to keep down weeds. 
Cultivation should be continued through the har- 
vesting season 1f possible. Heavily loaded bushes 
bending into the row-middles sometimes make 
cultivation difficult or impossible temporarily. 
As soon as the harvest is over, a cover crop of 
some annual crop such as oats, Sudan grass, or 
mixtures of these or other suitable crops should 
be sown, unless an adequate weed cover crop can 
be obtained. 
Careful pruning is essential, beginning the 
third year, if berries of large size are to be pro- 
duced and annual crops of moderately uniform 
volume obtained. The pruning consists of remov- 
ing the bushy, thin wood, and old stems or parts 
of stems which have declined in vigor to the 
point where relatively few new shoots at least 
four to six inches in length are being produced. 
