On the Domestication of the Lowbush Blueberry

Abstract

The highly flavored lowbush blueberry is a crop that is cultivated by the time established methods. "Tradition says that the (blueberry) barrens of Maine were first burned over by the Indians to encourage the growth of blueberries at some remote period long before white settlers came to the valleys of the Narraguagus and Pleasant rivers". Gathering blueberries on these barrens was a public privilege for more than a hundred year after the neighboring seacoast towns were first settled. After more than 150 years, with the exception of systematic pruning by fire and controlling certain insects, cultural practices have changed little. Due to the "wild" nature of natural commercial stands planting, fertilizing, weed control and other cultural practices have been generally unsuccessful or inefficient. The abundance of competing flora has been a major obstacle in attempts to increase yields of lowbush blueberries.