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THE HORTICULTURAL STATUS

OF THE

GENUS VACCINIUM

A Thesis Presented to the University Faculty of
Cornell University for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy,

WELTON MARKS MUNSON.

DIBBA CaN, ING We
TQOI

THE HORTICULTURAL STATUS

OF THE

GENUS VACCINIUM

A Thesis Presented to the University Faculty of
Cornell University for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy,

WELTON MARKS: MUNSON.

TAVEUAC Als Ni, aye
IQOI

CONTENTS.

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fit) HORMCULDURAL STATUS OF; TERE GENUS
VACCINIUM.

The members of the genus Vaccinium, though indigenous to
this country, and supplying in large quantities fruit which is
surpassed in quality by but few of the more generally cultivated
species, have received comparatively little attention from horti-
culturists. In 1898 a report upon the Blueberry in Maine was
published by the Maine Experiment Station. The object of
the present paper is to present as concisely as may be the exact
status of the group at the close of the nineteenth century, and
if possible to extend the knowledge of these plants in such a
way as shall insure a more just appreciation of their horticultural
value.

There is much confusion in the vernacular names applied to
members of the genus Vaccinium. The terms “Bilberry,” and
“Whortleberry’ usually mentioned as “common names” by
American writers, are seldom or never heard among the common
people in this country, while “Huckleberry” is often used indis-
criminately for plants of this genus and for the Gaylussacias.
In the central states the term Huckleberry is usually applied to
Vaccinium corymbosum, while Blueberry is given to the low
growing species like Canadense and Pennsylvanicum. In New
England, Huckleberry is reserved for species of Gaylussacia,
while Blueberry is applied to the lower growing species as above,
and High-bush Blueberry to corymbosum. ‘There is no satis-
factory explanation of the word huckleberry, which in English
works occurs only in those of recent date The red berried
species are, in general, referred to as cranberries.

1The Latin writers of the middle ages generally referred to plants of the genus
Vaccinium as Myrtillus, and the fruit was known as myrtleberry. It is not im-
probable that the term Whortleberry is a corruption from myrtleberry (Cf. Prior,
Pop. Names, Brit. Plts. 121) and that the American colonists further changed the
name to “hurtleberry.”? The transition from hurtleberry to huckleberry was easy
by simply dropping the first r, i. e., hutleberry. Others derive the name W hortle-
berry from the Anglo-Saxon heort-berg, hart-berry, or as we would say, deer-berry.
The question is discussed by Sturtevant in the Transactions of the Massachusetts.
Horticultural Society, 1890, p. 18.

In England the common names, as collated by Sturtevant,
are: Whorts or Whortleberries and Bilberries; in France,
Airelle, Aurelle, Myrtilles, M'yrtilles des bois, Bluete; or in
Brittany Lucets, and in Normandy Mawrets. In Sweden they
are called, in Upland, Blabar; in Smoland, Slinner; in Scania,
Bollion; in Lapland, Zirre and Zerre. In Brabant the usual
terms are, Crakebesein, Haverbesein and Postelbesein; in Ger-
many, Heydelbeeren, Bickbeeren, Blawbeeren, Schwartzbeeren ;
or for some species, Drunkelbeeren, Rauschbeeren, Grosse
Heidelbeeren, Moosheidelbeeren, etc.; in Italy, Myrtillo; in
Russia, Ticherniza, Pjaniza, Goluble, etc.+

DISTRIBUTION.

The genus includes about 125 species of wide geographic dis-
tribution, extending from the Arctic circle to boreal sub-tropical
regions, and the high mountains of the tropics; most common
in North America and the Himalayas. There are in North
America proper about twenty-five species and in Mexico and
Central America as many more. ‘The Himalayan region is par-
ticularly rich in species many of which are epiphytic. With
very few exceptions (e. g. erythrinwm in Java and emirnense in
Madagascar) the genus is unrepresented in the southern hemi-
sphere and in the lower regions of the tropics.

The most widely distributed species are, perhaps, Myrtillus
and uliginosum, which occur in middle and northern Europe,
Asia (except in the central part from the Himalayas to Thian-
schan, where all vacciniums are absent), Canada and central
North America southward to New York and Colorado, and west-
ward to Alaska. Uliginosum, especially, is confined to northern
and mountainous regions. litis-[d@a, also, has a wide distribu-
tion somewhat similar to Myrtillus. It is common in the higher
woodlands and mountains of mid 'e and southern Europe, in
America southward to New England, i.ake Superior and British
Columbia.

In several places in Germany, as stated by Drude,? wild
hybrids between the foregoing species and V. intermedium,
Ruthe, are not uncommon. The hybrids have evergreen foliage.

1 Sturtevant, Trans. Mass. Hort. Soe., 1890, 18.
2 Eng. and Prant. Pflanzenfamilien, 4:51.

Though erythrocarpon, of the southern Alleghanies, is not
found in the old world, a very, closely allied species, J apomcum,
is found in central Japan and China—these two species forming
a unique type intermediate between the blueberries and the cran-
berries. In Japan Vaccinium is numerous in species, but, with
the exception of the red fruited V. Japonicum and the black
fruited V. ciliatwm, they are not very abundant and are mostly
confined to alpine summits where the species are found which
in the extreme north encircle the earth; and blueberries nowhere
cover the forest floor with the dense undergrowth which is
common in our northern woods.

Of the purely American species, the most important ones are:
in the East, cespitosum, Canadense, corymbosum, Pennsyl-
vanicum and vacillans, together with the cranberries, macrocar-
pon, Oxycoccus and Vitis-Idea; in the South, Myrsinites and
virgatum; in the Northwest, myrtilloides and ovalifolium.

HISTORICAL NOTES.

The vacciniums have been strangely overlooked alike by horti-
culturists and by historians. Pliny, Vergil and Theophrastus
make brief reference to them; Dodoens,? in 1578, and Gerarde?
and Parkinson in the early part of the seventeenth century give
brief discussions of several forms. Parkinson says:* “There
are divers sorts of these low shrubs which must all go under
the name of Whorts or Whortleberries, although there is much
difference between them.’ He then describes nine different
sorts, the first two being referred to as “Bilberries.”

In America the fruit must have been used extensively by the
Indians in colonial times, though there are few records of
such use. Parkinson refers to Champlain who in 161 5 found
the Indians near Lake Huron gathering blueberries for their
winter store. Kalm speaks of the Indians drying the fruit by
the sunshine or by the fireside for winter use. Roger Williams
mentions: “Attitaash (Whortleberries) of which there are
divers sorts; sweet like currants... .Sautaash are these currants.

7Sargent, Gard. & For. 6:254.
2 Lyte’s Dodoens, 670. (1578)
3 Herballe, ed. 2, 1418. (1633)
*Theatrum Botanicum, 1459. (1640)

dried by the natives and so preserved all the year; which they
beat to powder and mingle it with their parched meal, and make
a delicate dish which they call Sautauthig, which is as sweet to
them as plum or spice cake to the English.’

Until very recently no attempt has ever been made at improve-
ment by cultivation.

USES OF THE FRUIT.

As before noted, the records concerning the uses and distribu-
tion of the vacciniums are meagre. Enough is known, how-
ever, to indicate that from the earliest times various species have ~
been recognized as of value for food or ornament. Pliny?
mentions the use of vaccima to dye the garments of bond-slaves
to a purple color.

Dodoens, in 1578, says:* “With the juyce of them (especially
of the black kinde) is made a certayne medicine called of the
apothecaries Rob, the which is good to be holden in the mouth
against great drieth “and” thirst in (Hoar) acquiesce anes Fen or
Marrische (marsh) Whortes doe also quenche thirste, and are
good against all evil inflammation or heat of the blood.”

Gerarde also, in 1633, writes:* “The juice of the black
Whortleberries is boyled till it become thicke and is prepared or
kept by adding honey or sugar unto it: the apothecaries call it
Rob, which is preferred in all things before the raw berries
EMemSelviecs see ew They be goode for a hot stomacke, they quench
thirst, and allay the heate of burning agues...... The people of
Cheshire do eat the blacke Whortles in creame and milke as in
these south parts we eat strawberries...... The Red Whortle
is not of such a pleasant taste as the blacke, and therefore not
so much used to be eaten; but they make the fairest carnation
color in the World.”

Parkinson, in 1640, quotes Gerarde concerning the medicinal —
value of the “bilberries,” and says further:> “With the juyce
of the berries Painters do color paper or cards, doe make a kind

1Roger Williams’ Key, 231; cited by Tuckerman, foot note in Josselyn’s N. E.
Rarities, 92. fe :

2 Lib. 16 cop. 18, cited by Gerarde, Herballe, ed. 2, 1419.

8 Lyte’s Dodoens, 670.

4 Herballe, ed. 2, 1419.

5 Theatrum Botanicum, 1459.

of purple blew colour, putting thereto some allome and Galles,
whereby they can make it lighter or sadder as they please. And
some poor folkes, as Tragus sheweth, doe take a potiuii of the
juyce strained whereunto an ounce of Allome, foure spoonfulls
of good Wine vinegar, and a quarter of an ounce of the waste
of the copper forgings, being put together, and boyled all
together, they put their cloth, wooll, thred, or yarne therein,
letting it lye for a good while, which being taken out and hung
up to dry and afterwards washed with cold water will leave the
like Turkie blew colour, and if they would have it sadder they
put thereto in the boyling an ounce of broken Galles.”

As already noted, the most widely distributed member of the
group is V. Myrtillus, and this species is very generally used as
an article of diet or in making drinks. In the Orkneys the fruit
is large and is used for wine.1 The Scotch Highlanders eat the
berries in milk and “make them into tarts and jellies, which last
they mix with their whiskey to give it a relish to strangers.’
In England they are found in the markets and “are eaten in
tarts or with cream or made into jelly,’* while in Poland,
“mixed with wood strawberries and eaten with new milk they
are considered a great delicacy.”* In France they are esteemed
as a fruit and are used for coloring wine.°

The berries are also of considerable importance for food in
Germany, Siberia, and with the Indians of the Rocky Mountains.

V. uliginosum, after Myrtillus the most widely distributed
species, has large, juicy, black fruits, which are eatable but not
agreeable in flavor as ordinarily found, and are commonly
believed to be unwholesome. Gmelin reports their extensive
use in Siberia, though there they are believed to promote intoxi-
cation. It is probable, as is known to be the case with V. Vitis-
Idea, that in the far North the quality is better than further
south. ‘The western Eskimos, according to Seeman, collect the
berries and freeze for winter use.* Of the species, Loudon
says: “In France they are used to color wines red; and in

1 Dickson, Pr. Essays Hort. Soce., ser. 2, 7:132, cited by Sturtevant, l. c.
2 Lightfoot, Fl. Scot. 1:201, cited by Sturtevant, 1. ¢c.

3 Loudon, Arb. et Fruit. 2:1157.

4 Ibid, 1158. .

® Aspelin, Fl. Oecon. 520 (1784) cited by Sturtevant, 1. ¢c.

6 Sturtevant l. ec. :

7 Loudon, Arb. et Fruit. 2:1158.

Siberia and Sweden they furnish an ardent spirit that is highly
volatile and intoxicating. ‘The leaves are added to Lycopodium
alpinum by the Icelanders; and a yellow dye for coloring wool-
lens is produced by an infusion of the two plants.”

Of Vitis-Idea Loudon says: “The berries are scarcely to
be eaten raw, but they are made into pies in Derbyshire, and in
Sweden a rob or jelly is made from them which is eaten with
all kinds of roast meat. In Sweden this preserve is also con-
sidered an excellent medicine in colds, sore throats, and_all
irritations of the mouth or fauces. In Siberia the berries are
macerated during the autumn and part of the winter in water;_
and afterwards they are eaten in a raw state, and fermented
along with barley or rye, and a spirit distilled from them; or with
honey, and a wine produced. Sweetmeats are also made of
them with honey or sugar, which in 1814 we found in frequent
use at Moscow at balls and masquerades. The berries of this
plant form an important article of commerce in the sea ports
bordering the Gulf of Bothnia, whence they are sent to the south
of Europe along with cranberries.”

In the colder parts of North America, and along the coast of
Maine? the berries of this species are highly prized for food and
are esteemed above the common cranberry for jellies and sauces.

The berries of V. ovalifoliwm are used largely, by the natives
of the Northwest in making a dainty which they: call le brow.
The berries are gathered before they are quite ripe, pressed into
a cake, dried and laid by for winter use. “For use a quantity
is put into a vessel of cold water and stirred rapidly until it
appears somewhat like soap suds. It is pleasant to the taste,
with a slightly bitter flavor.”* Funston, in a recent report on
the flora of Alaska, says concerning this species:* “A shrub
four feet in height, forms a large part of the undergrowth near
the coast (Yakutat Bay, Alaska). The dark purple berries,
rather larger than peas, are collected in great quantities by the
Indians who use them fresh and preserve them for winter,
drying the fresh berries by artificial heat. In September, imme-
diately after the close of the fishing season, nearly all the women

1 Arb. et Fruit, 2:1165.

2 Harvey, Trans. Maine Pom. Soce., 1895, 52.

3R,. Brown, Jr., Bot. Soc., Edinburgh 9:384. bi
4 Contrib. U. S. Nat’l Herb. 3:No. 6, cited by Gard. and For. 9:70, (1896).

and children devote themselves to collecting and drying blue-
berries for winter.”

Of all the American species used for food, the most important
are, perhaps, corymbosum, Pennsylvanicum, Canadense, and
vacillans. ‘The first of these, the High-bush Blueberry, or
- Swamp Blueberry, or “Huckleberry” of the middle west, is of
firm texture, good size and excellent flavor.’ The shrub is easily
transplanted, grows rapidly on any good soil and, more than
any other species, shows a marked tendency to vary in the size,
shape and quality of its fruit. It is the natural starting point
in attempts to add the blueberry to the list of cultivated fruits.
During the past few years it has received considerable attention
as a garden fruit, especially in New England.*

The other species named grow mostly on Mplande= Penns yi
vanicum especially, on dry sandy “barrens’”—and form the bulk
of the blueberry crop as seen in the cities or at the canning
factories.

USE FOR ORNAMENTAL PLANTING.

Among the plants which lend tone to the landscape in October
and November by reason of their bright foliage, many of the
species of Vaccinium may be included, the brilliant red, crimson
and orange colors often persisting much longer than the bright
hued leaves of a majority of other plants.

Of the ornamental species none are more strikingly beautiful
late in the autumn than the common high bush blueberry—
V. corymbosum. When well grown it is a stout, thick, spread-
ing bush eight to ten feet high. The plant is beautiful when in
flower; the fruit is attractive and of the best quality; and the
bright scarlet and crimson effects in late autumn, rivalling the
sumach in brilliancy, are unsurpassed. As an ornamental plant
the species deserves a place in every garden.

Pennsylvanicum also brightens waste places for a short time,
but drops its foliage too early to be worthy wf pianting as an.
under shrub. The same is true of Canadense, which is in many
respects similar. Stamineum (the Deerberry), though early
deciduous, is attractive when in bloom, and throughout the
summer, by reason of its graceful habit. The deerberry is found

1The Blueberry in Maine, Rep. Me. Ag. Exp. Sta., 1898, 170.

over a wide range in the northern states and in the mountains
south. Though usually found on gravelly soil, it will thrive in
any good garden soil, and it is one of the very, few ornamental
shrubs specially suited for densely shaded situations. Although
not abundant in our woods, it is not rare and its chaste beauty
entitles it to a place among valuable native ornamental plants.

Arboreum, introduced into the Kew Gardens by John Cree in
1765, forms-an irregular shrub too diffuse and straggling to be
of value except in masses at the south. Hirsutum, from the
mountainous regions of North Carolina and Alabama, is as
beautiful in its autumn coloring as is corymbosum and like that
species retains its foliage late in the season. Vitis-Id@a and
uliginosum, with their shining box-like foliage, are effectiye as
edging for the shrubbery border. Ovatwm is characterized by
Douglas! as “one of California’s most beautiful hedge plants,”
but it has as yet received little attention in cultivation.

PROPAGATION.

The spread of any plant in cultivation is, to a large extent,
dependent upon the activity of progressive nurserymen. If
these men find a given class of plants difficult of propagation,
such plants are seldom widely cultivated. In the past one chief
drawback to the dissemination of the blueberries has been the
difficulty, or supposed difficulty, of propagation. The few
nurserymen who have offered them for sale have usually
depended upon the native heaths and pastures for their supply
of plants, rather than upon the nursery rows. The results have
been most discouraging, and the blueberries, though among the
finest of fruits, are almost unknown in cultivation.

In the case of the cranberries, propagation is performed almost
exclusively by cuttings. With the blueberries grafting is easily
performed and in this way specially choice individuals may
be perpetuated. For general purposes, however, seedlings or
division will be used. Propagation by seed naturally requires
care and skill, but is entirely feasible, and the method may be
detailed in this connection. At the Arnold Arboretum Jackson
Dawson has for many years grown seedling blueberries. and his
method is essentially as follows :?

1Gard. and For. 6:116, (1893).
2Cf. Country Gent. 1535, 660.

Seed pans or boxes, about four inches deep are half filled with
potsherds and covered with a layer of sphagnum, after which
a compost of the following composition is used: one part good
fibrous peat (upland preferred), one part well rotted pasture
sod, and one part clean fine sand, free from iron rust. The soil
is firmed with the hand, or, better, with a mallet.

The seed, washed free from pulp of freshly gathered fruit,
is then sowed thickly over the surface, pressed down slightly
with a board and covered with the slightest possible sprinkling
of soil. Over this is put a light covering of sphagnum and water
is applied with a fine rose. The boxes are then placed in a cold
frame and allowed to get a few hard frosts. About the first of
January they are brought to a house with a night temperature
of 55 to 60° and a range of 10° higher by day, watched carefully
and kept moist but not saturated. As soon as the young seed-
lings appear, the sphagnum is gradually removed and a small
quantity of compost sifted in among the plants.

When the first or second true leaf has expanded, the seedlings
are pricked out into fresh pans or boxes prepared like the first ;
slight shade is given on bright days and the atmosphere of the
house kept moist by wetting down the walks. The plants them-
selves are syringed but slightly, and the temperature is kept as
even as possible.

About midsummer the plants are again handled and the same
treatment as before is continued until about Sept. 1, when more
air and less moisture are given, that the plants may be gradually
hardened off and later removed to a cold frame for the winter.
As frost approaches, the frames are protected with mats that the
foliage may be retained as long as possible.

After the leaves drop, the frames are covered with a few
inches of meadow hay, or litter and left for the winter; except
that the frames are opened once or twice each month to admit
the air. Early in April a bed, about 18 inches deep, of rich,
peaty loam is prepared. In this the young plants are set four
to six inches apart, syringed morning and evening and shaded
by lath screens during the brightest sunshine until thoroughly
established. .

By the end of August all water is withheld, that the wood
may ripen off for winter. At the approach of winter a few

ie)

inches of loam between the plants, to prevent heaving, is the only
protection required. The following spring, or two years from
seed, they may be planted out permanently.

Mr. Dawson has sown seed from September to January and,
while most of it grew the first season, some delayed until the
second year and then came up well. Seed that is kept until dry
and then sown, even in autumn and kept in heat all winter, will
seldom germinate until the second year.

Notes from Maine: At the Maine Experiment Station the
writer has grown several hundreds of seedlings and, while in
general following the method suggested by Mr. Dawson, has not
found the extreme attention to details absolutely essential. Our
practice has been to wash the seed from the pulp soon after har-
vesting, put it in cloth sacks and stratify in moist sand until early
the following spring, allowing it to freeze in the meantime.
Seed pans with liberal provision for drainage, are then filled
with potting soil, to which is added a considerable portion of leaf
mold, and the seed is sown as before described. Partly from
force of circumstances, and partly from design, the seedlings
were not given the best of care; but after being handled once
were, late in the summer, transferred to the cold frame where
they were simply covered with litter during the winter. The
foliowing spring they were transplanted into beds, shaded until
established, and made a good growth during the summer.
Naturally, however, the better care will produce larger plants
and, where practicable, should be followed.

The low blueberry (V. Pennsylvanicum) will usually fruit in
from three to four years from seed, but V. coryimbosum requires
four to six years.

CULTIVATION.

Within the past quarter of a century various spasmodic
attempts have been made at the cultivation of the b'ueberry;
though probably, as long as the fields and mountain slopes yieid
such an abundant natural supply as at present, this section of
the genus Vaccinium will not receive the attention, in the way
of cultivation and improvement, that its importance deserves.
In the wild state the fruit is certainly more worthy of notice
than was the blackberry, the raspberry or the currant.

Some writers have the mistaken notion that blueberries require
a poor soil. One writer goes so far as to say: “Blueberries
will not grow in cultivated ground, neither can they be grown
from cuttings nor can their tips be layered. The only, possible
way to transplant them is to cut a sod from a matted berry patch
and transplant it into sod ground. An old worn out pasture
makes the best berry land.”

Such a statement hardly needs refuting. There is no doubt
that the plants will do better if the roots are not too much dis-
turbed in removal, but the poor sod land is not a requisite to
successful culture.

In 1868 a successful amateur attempt at cultivation was made
by J. W. Scott, Bridgewater, N. Y., but pressure of other work
finally crowded it out.*

About 1875, Jackson Dawson, at the Arnold Arboretum,
Jamaica Plains, Mass., began the culture of blueberries from
seed, and has demonstrated the possibility of successfully culti-
vating most of the more common species.*

In 1883, and for a few succeeding years, Professor E. S. Goff
of the New York Agricultural Experiment Station, made some
attempts at culture, but the work finally yielded to the pressure
of other duties. A similar fate befell like work at the Michigan
Agricultural College in 1887.

In 1886, Frank Ford & Sons, Ravenna, Ohio, offered at least
three different species of Vaccinium and one Gaylussacia in their
nursery catalog and said: “This much neglected fruit, which
is of great value and easy of cultivation, ought to be found in
every fruit garden. Its perfect hardiness and adaptation to all
kinds of soil, render it as easy of cultivation as any of the small
fruits, and it can be grown anywhere that corn will grow.”

In 1891 at least three American nurserymen offered blue-
berries for sale, and in 1893 as many as nine species were on
the market—though not largely grown.

In 1808, at the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station the
work was taken up systematically, and is still in progress.

1«S, A. H.” Rural New Yorker, 1886, 252.
2 An. Rep. N. Y. Agr. Exp. Sta., 1883, 287.
3 Country Gentleman, 1885, 660.

Several instances of the successful and profitable garden
culture of blueberries are cited in the Annual Report of the
Maine Agricultural Experiment Station, 1898.1

While for the production of improved types it will doubtless
be necessary to resort to the culture of seedling plants, the length
of time required for results and the careful attention to details
in the management of seedlings, 1s well as the uncertainty of
results, will restrict such culture te the experiment stations, or
‘o a few enterprising nurserymen. The ordinary fruit grower
may, however, secure a stock of plants from a neighboring
pasture or swamp, and by giving the same attention to culture
which he would give to currants may secure very satisfactory
results. For this purpose, the high-bush blueberry, V. corym-
boswm and its varieties are perhaps the best sorts. They are
relatively easy to transplant, either from swamp or upland, and
are of good size and very prolific. ‘The variety amanum is a
rather dwarf form with very large berries and grows freely on
the upland. V. vacillans is the next best species for cultivation
as a “small fruit.”

THE BLUEBERRY INDUSTRY.

Although from the earliest colonial times the blueberry has
been highly prized as an article of food, very little attention has
been given to the systematic exploitation of our resources in this.
direction.

In many of the northern and eastern states—particularly in
New England, New York, Michigan and the mountains of Penn-
sylvania and West Virginia—there are thousands of acres of
land worthless for agricultural purposes which, after the pine
is removed, send up an abundant growth of blueberry bushes,
alders, poplars, grey birches and spirzas. It is believed that by
proper management these lands may be made to yield a hand-
some profit to their owners, and furnish employment to a large
number of people.

At the present time these lands are, for the most part, con-
sidered as public property, and irresponsible parties, recognizing
the fact that the blueberry crop is more abundant on young
bushes which spring up after a fire, recklessly burn over vast
areas and destroy valuable forests for their own selfish gain.

1Rep. Maine Agr. Exp. Sta. 1898, 170

Although very large quantities of fruit are gathered through-
out the northern and Atlantic states, the industry has been more
nearly systematized in New England than elsewhere. One
writer in 1887 states’ that he ships an average of 1,000 bushels
a year from his farm in New Hampshire and as many more for
his neighbors. He estimates that on one branch of the Boston
& Maine Railroad as many as 20,000 bushels are shipped
annually.

a oT = —oe a —— pe ——————eee—eEeEEe cee tee j

}
1

; THE BLUEBERRY BARRENS.

In the southeastern part of Maine, there are about 150,000
Acres Icdown as the “blueberry barrens.” Much of this land
was burned over by the Indians before the colonial period and
since the removal of the timber from the remainder, it too has
been repeatedly burned to keep down the growth of birches and
alders, and to facilitate the harvesting of the fruit.

About 40,000 acres of the, barrens belong to Mr. William
Freeman of Cherryfield, Maine, who may properly be regarded
as the pioneer in the blueberry industry of America. After long
and bitter litigation he proved beyond question his right to
charge royalty for all fruit gathered on his lands and estab-
lished a systematic method of treatment which is applicable,
under most conditions, everywhere. The method is somewhat
as follows: —

1Country Gentleman, 1887, 565.

The land is divided into several tracts, each of which is leased
to some responsible party who assumes the whole care of burn-
ing, keeping off trespassers, harvesting and marketing the fruit.
The owner receives, as rental, one-half cent per quart for all the
fruit gathered.

The pickers receive from one and a half to three cents per
quart ; those who lease the land and haul the fruit to the canning
factory, or to the station for shipment, one-half to one cent per
quart,—the rate being determined, in accordance with the
market values, by the firm which handles the product. The fruit
is all canned or shipped by one firm which keeps a record of the
amount as it is brought in, and pays the royalty to the owner.

Every. year a certain section of each “lease” is burned over.
This burning must be done very early in the spring, before the
soil becomes dry; otherwise the fire goes too deep, the humus
is burned from the ground and most of the bushes are killed.
Many hundred acres on what should be the best part of the
“barrens” have thus been ruined. ‘The method most commonly
used in burning a given area, is for the operator to pass around
the section to be burned, dragging after him an ordinary torch
or mill-lamp. He then retraces his steps and follows over the
burned area, setting new fires in the portions which have escaped ~
and back-firing if there is danger of spreading unduly over
areas which it is desired to leave unburned. A device occasion-
ally used consists of a piece of one-half inch gas-pipe, bent at
the end at an angle of about 60 degrees. The end opposite the
bent portion is closed with a cap or plug, and in the other end,
after filling the pipe with kerosene, is placed a plug of cotton
waste or tow. ‘This device is by many regarded as superior to
the lamp or torch, as it is more easily handled. Each section of
the lease is usually burned over every third year.

By far the largest proportion of the fruit is taken to the fac-
tories for canning. Early in the season, however, before the
factories are opened, a considerable amount is shipped to the
larger cities for use while fresh. This fruit is usually shipped.
in quart boxes, shown in the figure. The blueberries have an
advantage over other small fruits in that, with the exception of
currants and zooseberries, they will stand rough handling better,
and will keep longer than the others.

A BOX OF BLUEBERRIES.

All of the early fruit is picked by hand, and only the ripe
berries are gathered. Later in the season, particularly on “old
burns,” i. e. on areas which will have to be burned over the next
year, the fruit is gathered with a “blueberry rake.” ‘This is an
implement somewhat similar to the cranberry rake in use on
Cape Cod, and may be likened to a dust pan, the bottom of which
is composed of stiff parallel wire rods. The fruit may be
gathered much more quickly and more cheaply by means
of the rake. The bushes are, however, seriously injured
by the treatment. In no case should the rake be used in gather-
ing the high-bush blueberries. As the berries are gathered they
are passed through a fanning mill before being sent to the can-
ning factory; and again, at the factory, they are submitted to a
much stronger winnowing. ‘This is usually the only preparation
necessary.

Wm. Freeman, E'sq., Cherryfield, Maine, may properly be
regarded as the father of the blueberry industry in America.
His account of the beginnings of the industry is given herewith.

The canning of blueberries on a commercial scale was begun in
Maine as early as 1866 when A. L. Stewart of Cherryfield
packed some of the fruit procured from the neighboring wild
lands for the Portland Packing Company. J. W. Jones, a
pioneer in the corn packing industry, was.engaged in the can-
ning of blueberries in 1870, as were also William Underwood
and Company, Jonesport, Maine.

TE SR SRE AE ie iy SE a
ROE ier ss: |
- ce

BLUEBERRY RAKE.

Before canning the fruit was deemed practicable, “the plains”
were considered common property and people came for fifty and
even one hundred miles for a week’s outing and to gather blue-
berries for their own use, and to sell to the merchants of neigh-
boring cities and villages. The timber on the plains was fast
being destroyed by fires which were set by the blueberry pickers
and, in 1870, Mr. Freeman, who owned some forty thousand
acres of the wild land, decided to charge a small royalty for the
fruit picked on his lands. Most of the packers paid the small
amount demanded without question, but the Underwood Com-
pany refused and after repeated attempts to get them to recog-
nize his right of property, a suit for trespass was instituted
by the owner. The trespass continuing, other suits were
brought and the case was finally carried to the supreme court
before it was decided. The final decision was a complete victory
for Mr. Freeman—a judgment of $1,700 being granted and the

tight of owners of public lands to sell ° ‘stumpage”’ for blueberry
or other fruits being established once for all. Mr. Freeman’s
action not only benefited other owners of wild lands, as well as
himself, but it resulted in the perfect system of management
already detailed.

~A BLUEBERRY CANE LING FACTORY.

The financial importance of the blueberry industry is very
difficult even to estimate at the present time. In Maine the
canning of blueberries is largely in the hands of a few leading
packers. The largest of these factories has a daily capacity of
700 bushels and the average annual output is 8,300 cases of two
dozen cans each; representing 6,250 bushels of fresh fruit. ‘The
average price per case for the canned fruit is $1.90. In other
words, the value of the annual product of this one factory is
not far from $15,000.*

There were in 1g00 seven factories in Maine which engaged
in canning blueberries. These were as follows:

J. and E. A. Wyman, Cherryfield,
Burnham and Morrill, Harrington,

17This is the Wyman feetory which handles Mr. Freeman *sfruit. As will be
seen, Mr. Freemmn’s royalty will amount to $1,000, —and this from land which is
otherwise worthless.
2

L. A. and A. R. Logie, Columbia Falls,
J. A. Coffin, Columbia Falls,

A. L. Stewart and Son, Cherryfield,
Lawrence Bros., Jonesboro,

Lae. anode Ay RR Logie,Vanceboro.

The value of these factories is about $50,000. ‘Those at Jones-
boro and Vanceboro were erected in 1900.

The number of hands employed in the various factories would
aggregate about a hundred, but including the pickers, there are
from one thousand to two thousand men, women and children
employed in the blueberry packing industry during the canning
season. About $30,000 are distributed among the pickers each
year.

The total canned product of the “blueberry barrens” in 1899
was about 50,000 cases and the price per case was $2.20, making
the value of the blueberry crop in this one small section con-
siderably more than $100,000.

In northern Michigan large quantities of fruit are shipped each
year but there is no systematic management of the blueberry
lands. The Western Express Company, through the courtesy of
the Superintendent, Mr. S. A. Davis, records the following ship-
ment of blueberries in northern Michigan for 1900: Saulte Ste.
Marie, 650 cases (16 quarts each) ; Sturgeon River, 38 cases;
Ispheming, 544 cases; Wetmore, 220 cases; Marquette, 200
cases; Seney, 1,719 cases.

The last season was a very poor one for blueberries in upper
Michigan, the crop having been largely destroyed by late frost.
Large quantities are usually shipped from Baraga, whereas none
were shipped last year. From Wetmore, which reports 220
cases, the normal shipment is about 3,000 cases, and Sturgeon
River which reports but 38 cases is usually one of the best ship-
ping points.

WHITE BLUEBERRIES.

White or pinkish fruits, instead of the usual deep blue colored
berries, are not uncommon in certain localities. In some cases
these are simply albino forms; in others the color is due to a
fungous growth. In the gardens of the Maine Experiment
Station some of the albino forms are now fruiting, and, aside
from the color, they are perfectly normal.

\ : 19

Albino forms of certain species—as V. M-yrtillis—were early
observed. Dodoens, in 1578, mentions “some that beare white
Berries when they be rype, howbeit they are but seldome seen.””*

“White fruits are catalogued by Ruppius in Flora Jenensis in
1726, and were found by Gmelin in Siberia in 1768.2. In 1854,
John Booth of Floetbeck nursery, near Hamburg, Germany,
offered for sale plants of a white fruited form of V. Myrtillus
which had been obtained from the Black Forest.2 A white
fruited form of Vitis-[d@a is also noted as occurring at Lyng-
dalen in the province of Christiansand in 1761.*

Woe PENNSYLVANICUM, ALBINO.

White fruited forms of Pennsylvanicum and corymbosum
have been observed by the writer; white vacillans is reported in

ZI Lyte’s Dodoens 670.

2 Cited by Sturtevant,Trans. Mass. Hort. Soc. 1890, 25.
3 Loudon, Arb. et Fruit: 2:1157.

4Fl. Dan. 1:9. ‘

Garden and Forest, 1893, and other species are recorded.*
Ascherson and Magnus” have made a special study of the color
and form variations of Vaccinium, and citations are given which
show the very general distribution of albino forms throughout
the world.

No special reason for this difference in color can be assigned.
The white forms are found growing (usually in colonies) by
the side of the normal type. If exposed to full sunlight, the
fruit is very likely to have a blush cheek, or even to be of a
scarlet color.

The albino forms must, however, be carefully distinguished
from the “white berries” caused by the presence of a fungous
growth. One of these white forms was described in 1859 by
Déll as V. Myrtillus var. leucocarpon. But in 1879 Schroeter
showed that the white color was due to a fungus which he called
Pesiza baccarum (now Sclerotinia baccarum). ‘Ten years
later Woronin gave a full account of similar white berries found
by him in Finland on Vitis-Idea, Oxycoccus and uliginosum,—
three species which are also common in the United ee
of the fungus producing the color.

BOTANICAL NOTES.

Vaccimum (Origin of the name obscure) ; Vaccimacee.

‘Branching shrubs, creeping vines or small trees (sometimes
epiphytes), with alternate, often coriaceous, evergreen or decid-
uous, sometimes membranaceous leaves; flowers small, white,
pinkish or reddish in lateral racemes or terminal clusters, some-
times solitary in the axils, mostly nodding on slender bracted
pedicels and bearing blue black or red berry-like fruits, mostly
edible. Calyx 4-5 toothed, adherent to the ovary, persistent,
forming a crown-like appendage to the fruit. Corolla various
in shape, usually campanulate, cylindraceous or urn-shaped,
rarely sub-globose, 4-5 toothed or cleft. Stamens distinct,
included within the corolla tube or exserted; anthers often
2-awned at the back, the cells separate and prolonged upward
~ tGarden and Forest $:503, (1395).

2 Berichte da. were Bot. Gesell. 1890, 387-400.

3 Gard. and For. 2:50, (1889).
4Mem. Acad. St. Panemenwine. 1888.

into tubes at the apex, opening by terminal pores or chinks.
Pistil single, with a 4-5 or 8-10 celled ovary which is glabrous
or hirsute. Flowers in spring with or before the leaves, berries
ripe in summer and autumn, sweetish or sometimes acid, mostly
edible.

THE NATURAL GROUPS OF SPECIES.

In making the following natural divisions of the genus I have,
in general, followed Bentham and Hooker, but have included
the group Oxycoccus, after Gray in Synoptical Flora. When
two closely related forms occur over a wide range in latitude,
the assigned differences are very, liable to fail at some point.

Key to the Groups.

A. Ovary, 4-5 celled (rarely 8-10 celled in Vitis-Idza).
B. Stamens exserted
Ca filaments, yillouse ee oo. . ..OXYCOCCOIDES.
C@y Hilaments, pubenulents ssc nee Oxycoccus.
BB. Stamens included
C. Filaments glabrous or pubescent EuvACcINIUM.
CCP iilamentsy pilose. eas cc. Vitis-Ip#a.
AA. Ovary 10celled (sometimes imperfectly so in Cyanococcus).
B. <Anthers with two awns on the back... BATODENDRON.
1B Ie), ANNE TSS ARMECOA Goes adh ae Go Che 6 CYANOCOCCUS.

OxycoccoipEs, B. & H.

Erect branching shrubs with deciduous membranaceous leaves
and berries of Euvacciniwm, but with corolla of true Oxycoccus:
flowers solitary, axillary, on long pedicels, pedicel bractless, but
minutely 2-bracteolate at the base. V. erythrocarpon

V. Japonicum
Oxycoccus. (O-rycoccus, Pers.) Gray.

Corolla deeply 4-cleft or 4-parted; the lobes linear or lanceo-
late-oblong, reflexed ; stamens 8, exserted, anthers awnless, with
very long terminal tubes; ovary and berry 4-celled ; flowers, pale
rose-colored, axillary and terminal, nodding on long filiform
pedicels ; appearing in early summer; fruit maturing in autumn.

c. Stems very slender, creeping....... V. Oxycoccus
CC. Stems stouter, with ascending branches
V. macrocarpon

EUvVACCINIUM, Gray. .

Corolla ovate to globular, more or less urceolate, 4-5 toothed,
rose or white; filaments glabrous; anthers 2-awned, included;
ovary and berry 4-5 celled with no false partitions ; leaves decid-
uous; flowers drooping, solitary or 2 or 4 together, developing
with or soon after the leaves.

C. Corolla commonly 4-lobed; stamens 8..... V. uliginosum
CC. Corolla commonly 5-lobed; stamens 10.
1D), Plants dwarf, a foot or less high.

BH.) Branches notaneleds) 2 ce. V. cespitosum

EE. Branches sharply angled ...... V. Myrtillus

DD. Plants taller, 1—12 feet high.
EK. Margins of leaves sharply serrulate.
; V. myrtilloides
EE. Margins of leaves entire (except in ovali-
folium) .
ie Size of leaves +s in. long.
V. ovalifolium
FF. Size of leaves 44—%4 in. long.
V. parvifolium
V. Mortinia
Vitts-IpAEA (Koch.) Gray.

Corolla cylindraceous, ovate, or globose-campanulate, more or
less urceolate, rose or nearly white, 4-5 lobed, stamens included,
filaments hairy; anthers awnless (or with short awns) ; leaves
coriaceous and persistent; flowers in short racemes or clusters
from separate buds; bracteate and 2-bracteolate.

C. Ovary 5-celled ; stamens Io.
D. Branchilets: pubescent...) scheane nee V. ovatum
DDS, (Branchlets slabrous. cea seoee V’. crassifolium
CC. Ovary 4-celled ; stamens 8.
D. Branches short (3-4 in.) from creeping stems

V. Vitis-Idaea
BATODENDRON, Gray.

Corolla open-campanulate, 5 lobed; anthers tipped with long
slender tubes, and 2-awned on the back; ovary and (hardly edi-
ble) berry falsely to-celled; leaves rather firm in texture but
deciduous; flowers axillary and solitary or in leafy-bracted
racemes, slender pedicelled, bractlets minute or none.

Ca, Anthersminchideds 4a ie he 2k eee V. arboreum

OCH iAnthers exserted We ess a taieing.: eer V. stamimeum

Cyanococcus, Gray.

Corolla cylindraceous to campanulate-oblong or ovoid, 5-
toothed ; filaments hairy; anthers awnless, included; ovary and
berry more or less 10-celled by false partitions ; berry blue or
black, usually with bloom, edible, many seeded; flowers, short
pedicelled, (white or rose) in fascicles or very short racemes,
developed with or a little before the leaves ; buds separate, large,
scaly ; bracts and bractlets caducous or deciduous.

C. Foliage evergreen, coriaceous.
D. Calyx-teeth roundish and very dense. V. nitidum
DD. Calyx-teeth acute. .........+-+.--- V. Myrsinites
CC. Foliage deciduous (sometimes tardily so in southern
forms).
D. Corolla cylindraceous ............- V. Virgatum
DD. Corolla short and usually broad.
EK. Branchlets hirsute ....-....... V. hirsutum

EE. Branchlets glabrous or glaucous (except in
V. Canadense).

F. Leaves glaucous and pale beneath.
V. vacillans
FF. Leaves strongly pubescent both sides.

V. Canadense

and var. atrococcum of corymbosum

FFF. Leaves glabrous, often hairy on mid-
rib: beneath.

G. Margin of leaves bristly-serru-
ater

H. Fruit mostly blue.glaucous.

V. Pennsylvanicum ~

HH. Fruit black... V. nigrum

GG. Margin of leaves entire or at

most ciliate. V. corymbosum

A HORTICULTURAL CLASSIFICATION.

As already indicated, the genus under consideration includes
many species of particular importance as food plants, others
which are useful only for ornament, and some which are valuable
for both purposes. The following key to the more commonly
known species is based upon leading horticultural characters.

Cultivated chiefly for fruit.
B. Color of fruit red.

C. Stems slender, trailing; leaves evergreen.
1D: Apex of leaves acute......... Oxycoccus
DD. Apex of leaves obtuse or retuse.
mMacrocarpon
CC. Stems stouter though creeping; branches erect,
(HUG Sakis oon Goo TR To c Vitis-Idaea

CCC. Stems erect, much taller (2-10 feet).
D. Leaves small (14—%4 inch long).
parvifolium
BB. Color of fruit blue or black.
C. Plant low, 42-3 feet high.
D. Foliage evergreen.
E. Leavessmall(4—14 inch long).

nitidun. -

EE. Leaves larger (4-1 inch long).

Myrsinites:
DD. Foliage deciduous.
EK. Surface of leaves glabrous.

ia, Leaves pale beneath, not
shining aboyve...., vacillans
var. pallidum of corymbosum
FF. Leaves not paler beneath(ex-
cept sometimes in Pennsyl-
vanicum) ; shining, at least

above.
G. Flowers solitary in the
axils.
H. Branches sharply
angled.
Myrtillus
HH. Branches not.
angled.
cespitosunt

GG. Flowers in fascicles or
short racemes.
H. Fruit blue,glaucous

Pennsylvanicum
HH. Fruit black,
nigrum

EE. Surface of the leaves hairy.

F. Ovary and fruit glaucous.
Canadense
FF. Ovary and fruit hirsute.
hirsutum
CC. Plant taller (8—-12 feet), spreading.
D. ~— Flowers solitary in axils.
E. Leaves sharply serrate. . myrtilloides

EE. Leaves entire or slightly serrulate

ovalifolium
DD. Flowers in racemes or corymbs.

E. Racemes elongated on naked
branches..............virgatum
EE. Racemes sborter...... corymbosum
AA. Cultivated chiefly for ornament.
B. Plants low, 1—2 feet high.
C. Stems creeping, with branches erect or as-

cending. .

D. Leaves small, shining...... crassifolium

DD. Leaves larger, pale or glaucescent.
uliginosum
C@r) Stems erect twiGsied en. eie: ena erythrinum

BB. Plants taller, 2-20 feet high.
Cre Holiaceleversree na risidieny rreuye ce ta ovatum
CC. Foliage deciduous.

De Surface shining above, more or less
pubescent beneath .......arborewm
DD. Surface paler above, glaucous beneath.

stamineum
DDD. Surface bright green both sides.
erythrocarpon

THE MOST IMPORTANT SPECIES.
V. Oxycoccus, L. (Small Cranberry)
Linnzus, Sp. Ply sent i753:

(Synonyms: Oxycoccus palustris, Pers., Syn. Pl. 1: 419;
Oxycoccus vulgaris, Pursh. FI. 1: 263..)

Slender creeping plants with short (4-10 inch) filiform stems,
leaves ovate, acute or acuminate, 4 inch long, with revolute

margins ; pedicels 1-4, terminal ; corolla deeply 4-parted, the lobes
reflexed ; anthers exserted, with very long terminal tubes; berry
red, globose, %4-%% inch in diameter, 4-celled. (Figured:
Sowerby, Eng. Bot. ed. 1, 5: 319; Schlecht., Fl. von Deutch.
20: 2039; Reich., Icon. Fl. Germ. 17, t. 1169.)—Sphagnous
swamps, Europe, north and middle Asia, North America, Green-
land to Japan mostly in sub-arctic and alpine regions, Newfound-
land to Alaska and southward to mountains of Pennsylvania,
common on rocky, islands along the coast of Maine. The cran-
berry of the old world. It is distinguished from the next species,
the American Cranberry, by its very small pointed leaves, rarely
4 inch long, and by the short ovate segments of the corolla as
well as by the terminal inflorescence. Though smaller, its fruit
is by many considered superior to that of the next.

V. macrocarpon, Ait. (Larger American Cranberry)
Aiton, Hort. Kew, 2: 13, 1789.

(Synonyms: V. oxycoccus var. oblongifolius, Michx. FI. Bor.
Am. 1: 228; Oxycoccus macrocarpus, Pursh. Fl. 1: 263.)

Stems slender, creeping, elongated (1-4 feet), the flowering
branches ascending; leaves oblong or oval, obtuse or retuse,
14-14 inch long ; whitened beneath; pedicels several, axillary and
lateral ; berry red or reddish, globose or pyriform, 43-1 inch long.
(Figured: Ait. Hort. Kew, ed. 1, 2:13, t.7; Bot. Mag. t.2586;
Emerson, Trees and Shrubs of Mass., ed. 5, 2: 456; Meehan,
Flowers and Ferns 2: 28; Wein, III. Gart. Zeit. 1:81; as Oxy-
coccus macrocarpus Bart. Fl. 1, t.17.)—Peat bogs, Newfound-
land to North Carolina and westward.

This is the common large fruited cranberry, under cultivation
in Massachusetts, New Jersey and elsewhere.

V. Vitis-Idaea, L. (Cowberry, Mountain Cranberry, Foxberry)
Linneus, Sp. Pl. 351, 1753.

(Synonyms: V. Punctatum, Lam. Fl. Fr. 3: 396; V. punctt-
folium, Stokes, Bot. Mat. Med. 2: 363; V. buxifoliwm, Gillb. Fl.
Lituan. 1:4; V. nemorosum, Salisb. Prod. 291.)-

Plants low (6-10 inches) ; branches erect from tufted creeping
stems; leaves coriaceous, persistent, obovate or oval, 4-34 inch

long, dark green and shining above, with blackish bristly points
beneath ; flowers in short terminal racemes ; corolla white or rose-
colored, 4-cleft ; berries dark red, acid, rather bitter. (Figured:
Fl. Dan. t.40; Lodd., Bot. Cab. t.616 (as var. “major’”’) ; Bot.
Cab. 1023 (var. “minor’’).) Arctic regions of Europe, Asia
and Greenland to Japan; south to the coast of New England,
Minnesota and British Columbia.

A low, evergreen, shrubby plant which grows in cold and
elevated situations in the northern parts of both hemispheres.
The blossoms are very delicate and the fruits, which are rather
larger than currants, acid and somewhat bitter when uncooked,
are largely used in the more northern regions for tarts, jellies
and preserves, or as a substitute for the common cranberry.
According to Macoun (Gard. and For. 2: 508), the fishermen’s
families along the Gaspé coast and the north shore of the Gulf
of St. Lawrence, gather the fruit of this species in large quanti-
ties, for their own use and for sale, calling it “Low-Bush Cran-
berry.” Throughout the whole of northern Canada, hunters and
trappers, as well as the native Indians, have frequently to depend
upon it for food.

The plant spreads rapidly, is hardy and requires no special
care. It is valuable for the shrubbery border where the strong
contrast of the dark green foliage and the bright colored per-
sistent fruit is very striking.

V. parvifolium, Smith.
Smith in Rees Cycl. no. 13, 1817; Gray Syn. Fl. 2: 24.

Shrub 6-12 feet high, straggling; with slender, green, sharply
angled branches; leaves oblong or oval, obtuse, entire, dull or
pale, 4-34 inch long; flowers solitary in the axils, corolla globu-
lar, nearly white, calyx 5-lobed; berries light red, rather dry.
(Figured: Hook. Fl. Bor. Am. t.128.)—Shady and low woods,
northern California, near the coast to Alaska.

A somewhat straggling shrub, offered for sale by one nursery-
man. Of interest rather than of special merit. T. J. Howell of
Oregon characterizes the fruit as “of good flavor, excellent for
tarts,” while Gray, says “rather dry, hardly edible.”

V. erythrocarpon, Michx.
Michaux, Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 227, 1803.

(Synonyms: Oxycoccus erectus, Pursh, Fl. 1: 264; O. ery-
throcarpus, Elliott, Sketches 1, 447.)

Shrub, erect, divergently branching 1-4 feet high; leaves
oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, serrate, thin, 114-3 inches long;
pedicels solitary, axillary, bractless ; corolla flesh-colored, % inch
long, 4-cleft, revolute, berries globose, 14 inch in diameter, light
red, turning to deep blue-black at full maturity, watery, slightly
acid, ‘‘of exquisite flavor,” Don. (Not usually regarded as val-
uable.) (Figured: Bot. Mag. t.7413; (as Oxycoccus erectus)
Wats. Dendrol. Brit. 1, t.31)—Damp woods, higher Alleghanies.
Virginia to Georgia, July.

A remarkable species in that it combines the flower structure
of the Oxycoccus group wth the erect habit and foliage character
of the other vacciniums. The specific name is somewhat mis-
leading since, when mature, the fruit is similar to the blueberries,
though without the distinct crown of the persistent calyx, found
in cther vacciniums.

The species was introduced into England in 1806 by Lede
but has been cultivated only in botanic gardens.

A closely allied species, V. Japomicum, Miquel., (Miq. Ann.
Mus. Bot. Lugd. Bot. 1: 28, 1863; Maximowicz, Diagnoses Pl.
nov. Jap. et Mand., in Bul. Acad. Sci. St. Petersburg 8: 603,
1871) is found in central and northern Japan, but has not been
introduced into cultivation.

V. nitidum, Andr.
Andrews, Bot. Rep. t.480, 1805.

A diffusely much branched shrub, with smooth branchlets,
leaves thick coriaceous, shining above, obovate or oblong;
flowers in fascicles on short racemes ; the almost persistent bracts
as well as the roundish or obtuse calyx-teeth reddish; corolla
short campanulate, 5-toothed; berry “somewhat pear-shaped,
black.” (Figured: Bot. Rep. t.480.) —Low pine barrens,
Florida and Georgia. (Near to or passing into Myrsinites).

V. Myrsinites, Lam.
mamanck Hieye: l: 73, 1763.

(Synonym: V. nitidum var. decumbens, Sims, Bot. Mag.
1550.)

Low evergreen shrub, erect or decumbent; branches, when
young, puberulent; leaves exceedingly variable, oblong-lanceo-
late and acute to obovate and obtuse, 14-1 inch long, entire or
serrulate, sometimes denticulate, mostly shining above; bracts
and calyx-teeth acute or acutish; berries “globose, blue.”
(Figured: (as V. nitidwm var. decumbens) Bot. Mag. t.1550)
—Sandy pine barrens, North Carolina to Florida and Louisiana. .

The difference between this species and the preceding is
obscure. The chief points of distinction seem to be that
Myrsinites has puberulent branchlets, prominently veined leaves
and acute calyx-teeth and bracts; while mitidwim has smooth
branchlets, smaller and faintly veined leaves, with obtuse or
roundish calyx-teeth and bracts.

The species is grown as a pot plant in cool houses in England
under the name of V. Sprengelu. (Gard. Chron. n. s. 19: 473,
1883). ;

V. vacillans, Kalm, (Low Blueberry, Blue Huckleberry )
Mala aneblerb. Banks: Vor. FINN OY. W444, 1843.

(Synonyms: V. vacillans Solander, Gray, Man. ed. 1, 261;
V. virgatum Bigelow, FI. Bost., ed. 2, 152; V. Pennsylvanicum
Aone ah leN. U.S. 2416, in part.)

Erect, glabrous, with pale yellowish-green branchlets; leaves
obovate or oval, entire or sparingly serrulate; flowers in rather
loose clusters, generally on leafless summits of twigs; corolla
campanulate or cylindraceous, contracted at the mouth; berries
large, blue, with much bloom, of excellent flavor, ripening with
V. Canadense. (Figured: Emerson, Trees and Shrubs of
Mass., ed. 5, 454.)——Dry, sandy or rocky places, Maine to North
Carolina, westward to Michigan and Missouri.

One of the most common species of the northern and central
states, particularly west of the Alleghanies. The flowers, on
terminal and lateral naked branchlets, yellowish white, often
tinged with red, are quite showy; while the fruit is particularly

valuable. The only form it is likely to be confused with is
variety pallidum of corymbosum and from this it is distinguished
by the veins and ribs of its leaves being perfectly smooth. Well
worthy the attentioa of cultivators.

V. Myrtillus, (Whortleberry, Bilberry)
Linnzus, Sp. Pl. 350, 1753.

(Synonym: V. myrtilloides, Watson, Bot. King Exp. 209, not
of others. )

Low shrubs, glabrous; leaves ovate or oval, serrate, con-
spicuously veined, 14-24 inch long; calyx almost entire; berries
black, nodding. (Figured: Reichenb., Ic. Fl..Germ. 17: 118,
t.1169; Eng. Bot., ed. 1, 7:456; Schlecht, FL von giencem
20: 2036; Twin. Ill. Nat. ord. 2:83.)—Mountainous regions
Alaska to Colorado and Utah; Europe, Asia.

The most widely distributed species and very generally used as
an article of diet and in the making of drinks, particularly in the
old world. It is from this species that the common name whor-
tleberry is derived, as stated elsewhere. Not of special import-
ance in America.

V. caespitosum, Michx., (Dwarf Bilberry)
Michaux, Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 234, 1803.

A very dwarf tufted shrub, 2-12 inches high; nearly glabrous
throughout ; leaves obovate, obtuse or acutish, serrulate, shining
- on both sides; flowers solitary, corolla obovoid, pink or white,
slightly 5-toothed (rarely 4-toothed) ; berries large, globose, blue
with bloom, sweet. (Figured: Bot. Mag. t.3429.)—Hudson’s
Bay and Labrador to Maine and New Hampshire, also alpine
summits of Adirondacks ; in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado and
Utah to Alaska, east to Lake Superior.

It is doubtful if varieties can be distinguished. Var. arbus-
cula, Gray, passes into the ordinary form; while angustifolium,
Grav, and cunetfolium, Nutt., are found to be simply forms pro-
duced by shade. ‘he latter form, particularly, is common in
New England and early in the season the leaves are of the ordi-
nary obovate type, while later they. become elongated.

A boreal or Canadian species of rather limited distribution in —
the East, common in Maine north of latitude 44° 50’; not found
in Labrador north of latitude 54°. York, Maine, is the most
southern station known. It is generally regarded as a plant of
the highest alpine summits in New England, but it is not uncom-
mon in other localities throughout central and northern Maine.
It is abundant at Orono, and Fernald has found that “in the val-
leys of the Penobscot and its tributaries, the Piscataquis, the
Mattawamkeag, and the Wassataquoik, the plant is to be found
on almost any ledgy or gravelly riverbank.” Mlost abundant in
the valley of the upper St. John.

V. Pennsylvanicum, Lam. (Low Blueberry)
Mamanrekwwbncye. 1272) U783.

(Synonyms: V. myrtilloides, Michx., Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 223; V.
tenellum, Pursh, Fl. 1: 288 and Bigel. Fl. Bost. 150, not Ait. ;
V. angustifolium, Ait., Hort. Kew, ed. 2, 2:356; V. multi-
floriwmm, Dunal in D. C. Prod. 7: 572; V. salicinum, Aschers.
Flora, 1860, 369, not Cham.; V. multiforum, Wats. Dendr. Brit.
t.125 (?); V. ramulosum and humile Willd. Enum. Suppl.
ZONG ie)

A dwarf shrub (6-15 inches) with slender greenish, warty,
mostly glabrous branches; leaves membranaceous, oblong-lan-.
ceolate or oblong, distinctly serrulate with bristle-pointed teeth,
mostly shining on both sides but often hairy on midrib beneath;
flowers on short pedicels ; corolla campanulate-cylindrical, short ;
berries large, globose, bluish-black with bloom, sweet; the earli-
est to ripen north. (Figured: Bot. Mag. t.3434; Emerson, Trees
and Shrubs of Mass., ed. 5, 2: 456; (photo.) Rep. Maine Agr.
Exp. Sta. 1898, 171.)—Dry hills and woods Newfoundland and
the Saskatchewan southward to New Jersey and Illinois.

Var. angustifolium, Gray, (Man. ed. 1, 261) A dwarf form,
with more decidedly lanceolate leaves. V. angustifolium, Ait.
l.c., V. salicinum, Aschers, |. c., not Cham. Summits of moun-
tains northern New York and New England, Quebec to north
shore of Lake Superior and northward.

This species is extremely variable in size and shape of fruit
and flowers, but with the exception of the variety noted, and the
black fruited form often associated with it, which is set off as

VY. nigrum, the variations do not appear sufficiently constant to
warrant making separations. In general, the plant is of low,
semi-prostrate habit, is extremely prolific and thrives on dry
sandy hills. It furnishes the bulk of the blueberries found in the
eastern markets. When mown down or burned, the new erect
shoots produce, the following year, a long spike-like mass of
bloom and fruit which may be stripped off by handfuls.
Because of its character, and early ripening habit, it is known on
the blueberry plains as “early sweet” or “low sweet.”

V. PENNSYLVANICUM.

V. nigrum, Britton, (Low Black Blueberry)

Britton, Mem. Torr. Club 5: 252, 1894.
(Synonym: V. Pennsylvamicum var. mgrum, Wood, Bot. and

Flor. 199, 1873.)

Low shrub, similar to I’.
Pennsylvamicum and often
associated with it. Leaves
oblong-lanceolate to obovate,
finely serrulate, green above,
pale and glaucous beneath ;
flowers few in the clusters,
white or cream colored, ap-
pearing earlier than those of

Pennsylvamcum ; berries
rather small, black without
bloom. (Figured: (photo.)
Rep. Maine Exp. Sta., 1898,
171.)—Dry rocky soil,
Maine to New Jersey, west-
ward to Michigan.

The species is distin-
guished from the preceding
by the glaucous under sur-
faces of the leaves and by the
characteristic shining, black
fruit. It is usually found in
colonies in the same situa-
tions as Pennsylvanicum;
but occasionally the two V. NIGRUM.
species will be found intermingled.

V. Canadense, Richards. (Canada Blueberry)

(Named by Kalm in Herb Leche, now in Herb Banks; Rich-
ardson, in Frankl. rst Jour. ed. 2, App. p. 12; Hooker, FI. Bor.
Miia en SS Vynonyin« V. aloum, Lam. Eneye. 1:73, not I.)

Erect shrubs, 1-2 feet high, the crowded branchlets downy-
pubescent; leaves oblong-lanceolate or elliptical, entire, downy
both sides; corolla short, open-campanulate, greenish-white,
often tinged with red; berries globose or oblate, blue with much
bloom, of excellent flavor. (Figured: Bot. Mag. t.3446.)—
Low woods, Hudson’s Bay to Bear Lake and the northern Rocky
Mountains; south to New England, mountains of Pennsylvania
and Illinois.

This species, commonly known as “sour top” or “‘velvet leaf”
because of the character of its foliage and the somewhat acid
fruit, usually grows in rather moist, rocky, not swampy locali-
ties. The fruit is larger and more acid than the other low forms
and matures from one to three weeks later. It is not so popular
in the general market as the sweeter kinds, but it is very prolific
and its lateness in ripening is a point in its favor.

V. CANADENSE.

V. hirsutum, Uuckley, (Hairy Blueberry, Bear Huckleberry )
Buckley, Am. Jour. Sci. 45: 175, 1843; Sargent, Gard. & For..
2: 365.

Low shrub, 1-2 feet high, the stems green, grooved, obscurely
4-angled, thos2 of the current year covered with stout, spreading,
white hairs; leaves ovate, entire and, together with the pure

white, campanulate, corolla, the calyx and the dark blue globose
fruit, hirsute. (Figured: Gard: and For. 2: 365.)—Mountains
of Cherokee County, North Carolina, (Buckley, Sargent) ; Tal-
lulah Falls Cafion, Georgia, (J. K. Small) ; Cade’s Cove Moun-
tains, Tennessee, (A. Ruth).

This species, discovered about 1840 by B. S. Buckley “in the
mountains of Cherokee County,” North Carolina, was lost sight
of for half a century until re-discovered by Sargent at Robbins-
ville, Graham County, North Carolina in 1887, when it was
transferred to the Arnold Arboretum. Practically nothing is
known of its geographical distribution or habitat. It is readily
distinguished, however, by the hairy flower and fruit.

The fruit is described as fully as large as that of Gaylussacia
resinosa, shining black, and of an agreeable flavor. Under culti-
vation not so densely hairy as in the wild state. Gives promise
of being valuable under cultivation as one of the latest of its kind
to ripen,—at the Arnold Arboretum the best period of fruitage
being the middle of August, berries remaining into September.
It is probable that good results might be obtained by hybridizing
with V. corymbosum or V. Canadense.

V. myrtilloides, Hook. (Gray).
Gray, Man., ed. 5, 291; Syn. Fl. 2: 24, not Michx.

(Synonym: V. membranaceum, Douglas ined.)

An erect branching shrub mostly glabrous throughout, the
twigs slightly angled ; leaves oval, oblong or ovate, acute, serrate,
membranous, green both sides but not shining, 1-2 in. long:
calyx entire; corolla depressed-globular, yellowish or greenish
white ; berries large, oblate, black, rather acid. (Figured: Bot.
Mag. t.3447.) Moist woods, Lake Superior to the coast of
Oregon and British Columbia.

_ The berries are large 14-34 inch, oblate, with broad calyx; of
excellent flavor; much relished by the natives of the northwest.
(Howell, in Case Bot. Index, 1881, 38.)

V. ovalifolium, Smith.

Smith, in Rees Cycl. no. 2, 1817; Hook, Fl. Bor. Am. Ze ten
A slender, straggling, branched shrub 3-12 feet high, with
slender, more or less angled branchlets ; leaves oval, obtuse, elab-
tous, green above, glaucous beneath; flowers solitary, on short

recurved pedicels, corolla globose-ovoid; berry large (%-%
inch) bluish-purple, with bloom. (Figured: Hook. Fl. Bor.
Am. 2:33, t.127)—Woods, Quebec to Michigan, Oregon and
Alaska.

This species is very abundant in the northwest, forming a
large part of the undergrowth along the southern coast of
Alaska, (Funston); but, like many other plants of a similar
range it extends eastward through the region of the Great Lakes
and the St. Lawrence River. The berries, rather larger than
peas,are collected in great quantities by the Indians who use them
fresh and dry them for winter. The exceptionally large berries
and vigorous habit of this species suggest its value for cultiva-
tion and particularly for crossing with the low growing species
such as Pennsylvanicum and Canadense.

V. virgatum, Ait.
Aiton, sblor: Kew, eds 1.2212 .at a0)

(Synonyms: V. ligustrinum, Pursh, Fl. Am. Sept., 1: 288,
not L.; V. fuscatum Ker., Bot. Reg. t.302 (?); V. Elhotim,
Chapm.,, Fl. Som Oarss'260))

A shrub 3-12 feet high, with slender, green branches, the
young twigs puberulent; leaves narrowly oval-oblong, acute,
often mucronate, entire or minutely serrulate, green and glab-
rous above, pale or glaucous beneath, 34-2 inches long ; flowers in
short racemes on naked twigs; appearing before the leaves;
bracts small, deciduous.; corolla nearly cylindrical, white or pink;
berry black with or without bloom. (Figured: Bot. Rep. t.181;
Bot. Mag. t.3522; (as V. fuscatum,) Bot. Reg. t.302.)—Swamps,
southern Virginia to Florida and Louisiana.

Var. tenellum (Ait-) Gray, (Syn. Fl. 2:22). A low form,
mostly less than 2 feet, with smaller leaves and nearly white
flowers in short close clusters. (V. tenellum, Ait. 1. c., not
Pursh; VY. galezans Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 232; V. galiformis,
Smith, Rees’ Cycl. no. 16)—Southern Virginia to Arkansas,
Florida and Alabama. Probably, a distinct species.

The distinction between this species and the next is very slight. —
It is probable that, possibly excepting var. tenellum, this is only
a southern form of corymbosum and should be reduced to
varietal rank, following Don (Gard. Dict. 3: 854).

V. corymbosum, L. (High-bush Blueberry, Swamp Huckleberry)
Dinneeus, Sp. Ply 350, 1753.

(Synonym: V. disomorphum, Michx., Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 223.)

A tall, straggling shrub 4-12 feet high, with yellowish-green,
warty, branchlets which later turn brownish; leaves ovate or
oblong to elliptical-lanceolate, usually entire; flowers in short
racemes on naked twigs; corolla ovate to urn-shaped, or oblong-
cylindrical, white or pinkish; berries blue-black with much
bloom, of excellent flavor. (Figured: Emerson, Trees and

iene Sasa os NSS ZOOS SSS ee

Vv. CORYMBOSUM.

Shrubs, ed. 5, 2:454; Am. Ag. 1886, 364.)—Moist woods or
swamps, Newfoundland and Canada to Michigan and Minne-
sota; through eastern United States to Louisiana; rather rare
in the Mississippi valley. Exceedingly variable, and numerous
gradations unite the several varieties.

Var. amanum, Gray, (Man., ed. 5, 292), a form with
bristly-ciliate, serrulate leaves, bright green both sides, shining
above, often pubescent on veins beneath. (V. amenum, Ait.,
Hort. Kew., ed. 1, 2: 12; Bot. Rep. t.138; Twin. 111. Nat. Ord.
2:83, 6; Bot. Reg. 400. Figured, as V. corymbosum, Bot. Mag.
t.3433.) Mainly in the Middle Atlantic States.

Var. pallidum, Gray, |. c., a pale and glaucous or glaucescent
form, with or without some pubescence; ovary more completely
inferior, generally low ; otherwise resembling amenum. (V. pal-
lidum, Ait. 1. c.; Gray, Man. ed. 1, 262. V. albiflorum, Hook,
Bot. Mag. ae V. Constable, Gee Am. Jour. Sci. 42: 42)
Common in mountainous regions southward.

Var. fuscatum, Gray, (Syn. Fl. 2:23), a tall form with the
mature and entire leaves fuscous-pubescent beneath; flowers
virgately somewhat spicate on the naked flowering twigs. (V.
fuscatum, Ait., 1. c.) Alabama and Florida to Louisiana and
Arkansas.

V. corymbosum is one of the most valuable species both for
fruit and as an ornamental shrub. It thrives in the garden and .
is readily susceptible of improvement by cultivation. Toward
the south it approaches . virgatum, Ait., and var. pee may
be confused with V. vacillans, Kalm.

V. atrococcum, Heller, (Black Blueberry)
Heller, Torr, Bull. 2172401804

(Synonyms: V. disomorphum, Bigel. Fl. Bost., ed. 2, 151, not
Michx.; V. corymbosum var. atrococcum, Gray, Man., ed. 5,
202. )

A branching shrub with shreddy bark, similar to V. corym-
bosum. Leaves oval or oblong, dark green above, densely
pubescent beneath, entire, acute, often mucronate; flowers in
short racemes, appearing with the leaves; berry black without
bloom, sweet. Moist woods and swamps, Canada to Pennsyl-
vania and New Jersey.

V. crassifolium, Andr.
Andrews, Bot. Rep. t.105, 1798.

Slender, trailing shrub; stems 2-3 feet long, glabrous; leaves
small, 1%4-'% inch long, oval or narrowly oblong, sparsely serru-
late or entire, shining; flowers few, almost sessile, in small
axillary clusters, nearly white, or tinged with red; berries black.
(Figured: Bot. Rep. t.105; Bot. Mag. t.1152.)—Sandy bogs,
near the coast, North Carolina to Georgia.

‘Useful for the shrubbery border, south.

V. uliginosum, L. (Bog Bilberry)
Manns, ops el 350). 1753.

(Synonym: V. gaultherioides, Bigel. New Eng. Med. Jour.
5: 335-)

A stiff, much branched shrub ™%-2 feet high; leaves thick,
obovate or oval, obtuse or retuse, %-1 inch long, nearly sessile;
flowers 2-4 together, or sometimes solitary; calyx 4-parted,
sometimes 5-parted; corolla urn-shaped, 4 or 5-lobed, pink;
stamens 8-10; berries bluish-black with bloom. (Figured: FI.
Dan. t.231; Reichenb. Ic. Germ. 17, t,1168; Sowerby, Eng. Bot.
Geo) (ibid. ed. 1, 9-581); Deakin Blom Brit. 2,: 19, 630;
Seuecht, Elor: Deutch. 20: 2037; Pratt, Fl. Pl. 3: 357.)—
Labrador to New England; mountainous regions of New York;
Lake Superior to Alaska. Also in northern Europe and Asia.

Usually considered a high mountain species, but found by the
writer on the blueberry barrens of eastern Maine and reported
as abundant along the ledgy shores of the Carrabassett River
(Fernald) and along the St. John at Fort Kent (Furbish) in
the same state. The varieties mucronatum Herder, and micro-
phyllum, Lange, the former from Alaska and the latter from the
west coast of Greenland, lat. 70° (Schuchert and White, Torr.
Bul. 27:66) are not of importance.

The plant is useful for the shrubbery border in cold wet
locations, and its fruit though of poor quality, is used, for food
by the natives of the northwest.

V. erythrinum, Hook.
Hooker, Bot. Mag. t.4688, 1852.

An erect, glabrous, evergreen shrub with bright red twigs;
leaves ovate, obtuse, coriaceous, entire; flowers in long, one-
sided, terminal racemes ; corolla cylindraceous, 5-toothed,4 inch
long, purple, reddish. (Figured: Bot. Mag. t.4688; Lemaire,
Jard. Fl. 4: 364; Jour. of Hort. 34: 39.)—-Mountainous regions,
Java.

Sent to England in 1852 and since grown by various nursery-
men as a greenhouse pot-plant. It is a strong plant, furnishing
an abundance of bloom in December and January. Not remark-
able, but worthy a place in collections. A very distinct type,
the only other representative of which, sv far as observed, is
V. Rollisom, Hook, (Bot. Mag. t.4612).

V. ovatum, Pursh,

Bunche invA: Sept... 200. Loma

(Synonyms: V. lanceolatum Dunal in D. C. Prod. 7: 570;
Metagonia (Pyxothamnus) ovata, Nutt., Trans. Am. Phil. Soe.
Seri2 sor 2625)

An erect, rigid, evergreen shrub, 3-8 feet high, with pubescent
branchlets ; leaves very numerous, thick, shining, ovate or oblong,
acute, serrate; flowers numerous, in short axillary clusters, fol-
lowed by dark purple fruit of agreeable flavor. (Figured: Bot.
Reg. t.1354; Lemaire, Jard. Fl. 4: 424.)—-Vancouver’s Island to
Monterey, California.

A distinctly western species, and one of California’s most
beautiful hedge plants, but not well known. V. ovatum is very
tenacious of life and bears pruning well; propagated from
suckers, cuttings, and seeds which it bears freely. Most abund-
ant on the northern mountain slopes of the coast range; but also
found growing luxuriantly on southern slopes exposed to bright
sunlight. (T. H. Douglas, Gard. & For. 6: 116, 1893).

V. arboreum, Marshall, (Farkleberry, Sparkleberry)
Marshall, Arbust. Am. 157, 1785.

(Synonyms: V. diffusum, Ait. Bot. Mag. t.1607, Batodendron
arborewm Nutt., Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. ser. 2, 8: 261 and Sylva,

3: 43.)

Spreading shrub or small tree 6-25 feet high, with glabrous
or somewhat pubescent branchlets; leaves thinnish-coriaceous,
smooth and shining above, obovate to oblong, entire to obscurely
denticulate; flowers profuse, axillary and leafy racemose; corolla
white, 5-lobed ; berry small, globose,rather astringent. (Figured:

-Lodd. Bot. Cab. t.1885; as V. diffusum, Bot. Mag. t.1607.)—
Sandy soil along river banks, Florida and Texas to North Caro-
lina and Illinois.

The flowers are solitary and axillary along the terminal
branchlets, each pedicel being curved near the flower. The
leaves on these flowering branchlets are only about half the size
of other leaves on the same branches, though in other respects
similar. Some regard these leaves as bracts, and regard the
inflorescence as “leafy racemose.”

The species was introduced into the Kew Gardens in 1765 by
John Cree. It forms an irregular shrub too diffuse and strag-
gling to be of value coe in masses, for which purpose it is
useful at the south.

V. stamineum, L. (Deerberry, Squaw Huckleberry)
Linneus, Sp. Pl. 350, 1758.

(Synonyms: V. elevatum Solander; Dunal in DC. Prod.,
7-507. VV. album, Pursh, Fl. Am. Sept. 1: 285, not L.)

A divergently branched shrub 2-5 feet high with pubescent or
glabrous twigs; leaves oval to oblong-lanceolate, acute, entire,
pale, glaucous or sometimes slightly pubescent beneath, 1-4
inches long, 1%4-1¥% inches wide; flowers very numerous in large,
leafy-bracted racemes; corolla green, 5-cleft; anthers and style
exserted ; fruit large, globose or pyriform, greenish or yellowish,
few-seeded, almost inedible. (Figured: Bot. Rep. t.263. V.
stanuneum H. B. & K. t.353, the V. Kunthianum, Klotzsch, has
shorter anther tubes and a hairy ovary.)—Dry woods and
. thickets Maine to Minnesota, south to Florida and Louisiana ;
rare west of the Alleghanies.

The Deerberry is found over a wide range in the northern
states and in the mountains south. It is also recorded as one
of the principal plants of the dry pine barrens of southern
Georgia (Harper). It is usually found naturally on gravelly

soils in the shade of deciduous trees—particularly black oaks—
but will thrive on any good, well drained soil and is a valuable
shade-enduring ornamental shrub.

Var. melanocarpum, Mohr, (Southern Gooseberry, Mohr,
Torr. Bul. 24:25, 1897). Shrub 2-3 feet high, branched from
near the base; leaves as in the type, flowers in loosely 4-8
flowered elongated racemes; berries twice the size of the typical
form, shining black, with a juicy purple pulp, sweetish, with
slightly tart pleasant flavor. Rocky shaded hills in the mountain
region of central and northern Alabama. (Mohr).* :

Supplementary List of American Species.

The following species from various parts of America have been
described but as a rule are little known:

From Mexico: angustifolium Benth (not Ait.) ; confertum,
H. B. & K.; cordatum, Hemsl. ; eriocladum Dunal; gemimtlorum,
H. B. & K.; Kunthianum, Klotzsch; leucanthemum, Schlecht. ;
micranthum, Dunal; Schlechtendallu, G. Don; villosum, Smith.

From Central America: consanguineum, Klotzsch; pachy-
phyllum, Hemsl.; secundum, Klotzsch. ;

From South America; affine, Klotzsch; Alaternoides, H. B.
& K.; caracasanum, H. B. & K.;didymanthum, Dun., (Rusby)? ;
floribundum, H. B. & K., (Rusby); peneoides, H. B. & K.,
(Rusby) ; pernettyoides, Griseb. (Rusby).

From the West Indies: assimile Wright; Cubense Griseb.;
meridionale Sw; Poasanum, Donn. Sm.°

THE OUTLOOK.

As has been shown, the vacciniums are widely distributed,
particularly in eastern and northern United States and Canada;
and there are vast areas which, while bearing a considerable
number of bushes and yielding a profitable return to the few
people who make a practice of gathering the wild fruit, are not
utilized as they might be. The systematic treatment of the wild
lands as described in the foregoing pages might with profit be
extended to many other sections. |

There are also large areas, otherwise worthless, which might
~ 1 Professor Mohr in a personal letter to the A states that he will raise this
variety to specific rank in a fortheoming work—Alabama Plant Life.

2 Collected by Rusby, Torr. Bul. 20: 138.
3 Species described by Donnel Smith in Bot. Gaz. 24:395, 1897.

without doubt be made to yield good returns if, in some way, a
growth of blueberries could be started—either by setting bushes
or by scattering seed. The most valuable species for this pur-
pose are Pennsylvanicum, Canadense, and vacillans. Although
_this suggestion may be regarded as visionary, it is quite within
the range of possibilities.

Another phase of the subject which is worthy of careful
attention is that of domestication and the improvement of types
by selection. During the last half century the cultivation of the
cranberry has become an important and well established industry
and several valuable types have been produced. Little has ever
been attempted, however, in the garden culture of the blueberry ;
though there is no doubt that satisfactory results may be
obtained. ‘The fruit in its wild state is far superior to that of
most other small fruits and is very susceptible to the influence
of environment. At the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station
systematic cultural experiments are now in progress and in
Massachusetts cultivation has been practiced by amateurs with
encouraging results. The most promising species for this pur-
pose, as well as for ornamental planting, is the high-bush
blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum. The natural varieties and
improved forms of this species may readily be perpetuated by
division or by grafting. .

In general, it is probable that within a very few years a race
of garden blueberries, rivaling in importance some of the best
of the other small fruits, will be placed before the public, and
the culture of the blueberry will be as much a matter of course
as is that of the blackberry or the raspberry.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

The literature of the Vacciniums is fragmentary and widely
scattered. No attempt has been made to collate all of the refer-
ences to the genus, but below is given a list of the more impor-
tant monographs which are usually accessible in this country,
together with the leading articles in horticultural books and
journals.

Monographs and Floras.

Aiton, W. T. Hortus Kewensis ed. 2, 5 vols., 1810-13. See
2: 355-9.

BicreLow, JAcos. Florula Bostoniensis, ed. 2, 1824, see pp.
150-4.

Britton, N. L. and Brown, A. Illustrated Flora of the North-
ern States and Canada, 3 vols., New York,
1897. See 2:575-80.

CHAPMAN, A. W. Flora of the Southern United States, ed. 2,
1883. See pp. 259-60.

CLARKE, C. B. Vaccinium, in Hooker, Flora of British India,
7VOIS.,-TSO2) (S6e 2) 45125;

Don, Grorcr. Dictionary of Gardening and Botany, 4 vols.,
1831-38. See 3: 855-860.

Duna, Micuet Fevix. Vaccinium, in De Candolle, Prodro-
mus, 7: 506-576, 1839.

Gray, Asa. Synoptical Flora of North America, 2: 20-26, 1887.

H. B. and K. (Humpoipt, BonpLAND and KuntH). Voyage
de Humboldt et Bonpland, 8 vols., 1815-25.
See 3: 265 et seq. |

Hemstety, W. Bortrnc. Biologia centrali-americana, Botany
(1879-88), 5 vols. See 2: 30 et seq.

Hooker, WiLtiAmM Jackson. Flora boreali-americana, etc.,
London, 1829-40, 2 vols. See 2: 33 et seq.

HumpBotpt, FrieprRiIcH HEINRICH ALEXANDER VON, see H. B.

and K.
Kocu, Kart HernricH Emit. Dendrologie. Baume
welche in Europa . . . kultivirt werden,

1869, 3 vols. See 2: 95-109.

KUNTH, CARL SIGISMUND, see H. B. and K.

LAMARCK, JEAN Baptiste ANTOINE. Encyclopedie methodique
Botanique, Paris, 1783-1808, 8 vols. See
TOS seisede

MicHaux, ANprE. Flora boreali-americana, Paris, 1803 (ed. 2,
1820), 2 vols. See 1: 227-235.

Nurtatt, THomas. ‘Transactions of American Philosophical
Society, ser 2; 8: 201 et seq.) 1842,

PursH, FrepErRIcK. Flora Americanae-septentrionalis . . .
London, 1814, 2 vols. See 2: 284-290.

Current Literature.

Ames, Marcus F. The Culture of Blueberries. Am. Cult.
Aug. 1808.

AscHERSON and Macnus. Die weissfrtichtige Heidelbeere. Ver-
handl. Zool. Bot. Gesell., Vienna, 1891, 679.

AsCHERSON and Macnus. “Die Weisse Heidelbeere (Vacci-
mum Myrtillus, L. var. leuwcocarpa, Hause),
nicht identische mit der durch Sclerotima bac-
carum (Sch.) Rehm, verursachten Sclerotien
Krankheit.” Ber. der deutschen Bot. Gesel-
Isch., 1890, 387-400.

BarLey, eee Cape Col Cranberries. Am. Gard. 11: 583-6,
1890. Cultural notes.

BoncarD, HEINRICH Gustav, Sitk. 525, “Observations sur la
vegetation de Vile de Sitcha.” Mem. Acad.
etersp. Ser Vl Wes (Sts Petersburen18 32)

Carp, F. W., “Huckleberries,’ Bush Fruits, 491-501.

Dawson, Jackson, “Huckleberries and Blueberries.” Count.
Gent., 1885, p. 660. Detailed notes on the
culture of seedlings of this class.

Dawson, Jackson, The Cultivation of Huckleberries. Gard.
and For. 1: 183-185, 1888.

FERNALD, M. L,., The Distribution of the Bilberries of New Eng-
land’ Rhodoray.23187-190,, 1900. | eters
particularly to V. cespitosum and V. uligin-

osum.
Fartow, W. G., White Huckleberries. Gard. and For. 2:50
anGdiO 362.)
FULLER, us S., Huckleberries. Small Fruit Culturist, ed. 1,
245-250.

GERARDE, JOHN, Herballe, ed. 2, pp. 1415-19, figs. 6, 1633.
Interesting historical notes.

Harvey, F. L,., The Cranberries of Maine. ‘Trans. Maine Pom.
Soc’y 1895, 49-54.

Hitt, E. J., V. vacillans with White Fruit. Gard. and For.
8: 503, 1895.

Jack, J. G., The Cultivated Blueberries. Gard. and For. 7: 294,

. Pe hoor

Lawton, C. D., The Value of Huckleberry Swamps, Rep. Mich.

lors SOG 5s 1San., 230.

Macoun, J. M., Notes on V. Vitis-Idaea. Gard. and For.
2: 508, 1889.

Maury, PAutL, “Vaccinium de France—sur les variations de

- Structure des.” Jour. de Bot. 1: 104-8, 115-
tts All:

Munson, W. M., The Blueberry in Maine. Rep. Maine Agr’l
Exp. Sta. 1898, 164-172.

Munson, W. M., Some Little Known Fruits. Am. Gard.
20: 852, 1899. (Same, Trans. Me. Pom. Soc’y
1899, 36-38)

Munson, W. M., The Blueberry—Its Past, Present, and Future.
PARKINSON, JOHN, Whortleberries. Theatrum Botanicum,
Chap. 46, pp. 1455-9, 1640.

Peck, Cuas. H., Huckleberries and Blueberries. Count. Gent.
1888, p. 168. Popular notes on the botany of
several species of Vaccimium and Gaylussacia.

SARGENT, C. S., Notes on Vaccinium hirsutum. Gard. and For.
Bi 264, fis) lL, Tego:

STURTEVANT, E.. Lewis, Huckleberries and Blueberries—Gaylus-
sacia and Vaccinium, sp. ‘Trans. Mass. Hort.
Soc’y 1890, pp. 17-38.

Woronin, Ueber die Sclerotien Krankheit der WVaccinieen

‘Beeren, 1888.

Albino forms ......
American species ..
Bibliography .......
Blueberry barrens ..
Blueberry industry .
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