The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1921-12-30
Acid Land Can Be Utilized in
Culture of the
Fruit.
BIG AS CONCORD GRAPES
Department of Agriculture Sees Fu-
ture for the Berry and Will
Assist.

9 Blueberries as large as Concor
grapes have been produced throug
e lybridization. Introduction of tn
BURBERRY into agriculture has NOR
: significance than the mere addition O
one more agricultural industry t
those already in existence Bluet ei
: ries thrive best in soils so acid as t,
be considered worthless for ordinary
agricultural purposes. Burberry cul
ture, therefore, not only promises tt
add to the general welfare through the
utilization of land almost valueless
otherwise, but it offers a profitable in.
dustry to individual land owners in
certain districts in which general ag-
ricultural conditions are especially
hard and unpromising, and it suggests
the possibility of further utilization of
such lands by means of other crops
adapted to acid conditions.
BIueberry Grows Only in Acid Soil.
Success in blueberry culture rests
especially on the recognition of two
peculiarities in the nutrition of these
plants, says Frederick V. Colville in
a new bulletin No. ga, Directions for
Burberry Culture, 1921, recently is
sued by the United States department
of agriculture. These peculiarities are
the requirement of an acid soil and
their possession of a root fungus that
appears to have the beneficial func-
ton of supplying them with nitrogen. |
Good aeration of the soil is another |
essential. Although the highbush or |
swamp blueberry occurs frequently in
swamps or other wet places, the plants
occupy situations which. are exposed |
to air during the root-forming periods
of summer and autumn The swamp
grows best in soils naturally
or artificially supplied with adequate
moisture.
Next to Importance to soil condi-
ions is convenient location with ref
'rence to a good market, the bulletin
points out. The berries should reach
neir destination without delay, prefer
lbly early in the morning following
ne day OF picking. To secure the
est price they should also reach the
market before the height of the main I
ND BURBERRY season. A situation to / |
ne south of the great areas of wild | |
lueberrfes in northern New England,
anada, and northern Michigan. is
lerefore desirable. One of the most
romising districts for blueberry cul-
ire is the cranberry region of New
srsey, for there an ideal soil occurs
conjunction with an early-maturing
JASON and excellent shipping facili-
es to the markets of PHILADELPHIA
ID New York.
me Importance of superior varie-
IS is particularly stressed in the bull .
-ln From the market Standpoint 3
features of superiority in a blue $.
rry are sweetness and excellence of
vor; large size; light blue color. =.
e TO the presence of dense bloom
er the dark-purple or almost black
in; "dryness," or freedom from SUI
'1cial moisture, especially the fer
ntlng juice of broken berries: and
mpness; that is, freedom from the
hered or wrinkled appearance that /
berries begin to acquire several
IS after picking
he cultivator is obliged to begin
the purchase of few plants of
9cted hybrid varieties, or by the
lsplanting of the best wild bushes A
'cted when in fruit for the size. o
IT, flavor, and earliness of the berry d
the vigor and productiveness of r
bush. These he should propagate
layering, by division, and by cut
S. Through a combination of -
e methods, a valuable old plant -
often be multiplied by several
1red at one propagation, the fruit
he progeny retaining all the char
rlstics of the parent Detailed d. ~.
ons for the various methods of on
agation are given in the bulletin wit
Ie lowbush berry may be spaced 3 1
feet, which will give the plants inst
uate room for many years. Till. quiz
should be given to keep down The
s and grass, and is best done nv 'ere
cultivation with spring-tootb
wv, supplemented by careful hand
e and hand wedding close around
plants. Tillage should ba obo1