the plants may then be separated and planted out in nursery rows. It is advisable 

 especially in the more northern sections, to delay planting till the spring, or else 

 heavily mulch the transplanted plants to prevent unfavorable weather conditions 



heaving them out. 



Soil and Location. 



Currants and gooseberries are surface feeding plants, which fact largely deter- 

 mines their soil requirements. 



Currants will do well on most soils, but prefer a cool, moist, fairly heavy 

 soil, as their natural habitat would indicate. A rich well-drained clay loam will be 

 found most suitable, (rooseberries' require a similar type of soil, though a little 

 heavier and moister. In dry soils gooseberries are apt to suffer from premature 

 falling of the foliage, thus exposing the fruit so that it becomes scalded by the 

 sun's rays'. The surface of light soils, unless shaded by trees, gets very hot in 

 summer, which is not best for the fruit as it induces mildew. A northern exposure 

 is to be preferred for both currants and gooseberries as such a location is not so 

 likely to suffer in a dry season. A northern site too, may in part offset the disad- 

 vantage of an unfavorable soil. 



Some reduction in the intensity of the sun's rays will be found advantageous, 

 especially with gooseberries, shading and the cooler atmosphere helping to 

 control the mildew. Gooseberries, too, are susceptible to sun scalding. They 

 scald very easily if left out in the hot sun, or if the bushes are very open. Currants 

 and gooseberries therefore often thrive well in the orchard. One of the most 

 successful growers of gooseberries in the Niagara district has part of his goose- 

 berry plantation in the peach orchard. He considers this block of gooseberries 

 as the most profitable he has, and says that the plants thrive better under the 

 peach trees and bear far better than where the fruit is grown in the open ; also 

 the fruit is cleaner and freer from mildew, and the pickers find their work more 

 agreeable in the shade of the peach trees. Further, there are two crops coming off 

 the land — gooseberries and peaches. This shading is, of course, most satisfactory 

 and necessary in those districts, such as the Niagara, which have a much warmer 

 climate than that naturally favored by gooseberries. Mulching tends to accom- 

 plish the same end, since it keeps the soil shaded and cool. The above remarks 

 apply equally as well to currants, which will also be found to do better in shaded 

 locations, especially in the southern parts of our Province. 



The same grower, in discussing further his gooseberry plantation in the peach 

 orchard, states that in his experience English gooseberries thrive best on sandy 

 loam soil. This is somewhat contrary to the generally accepted practice, but is 

 likely explained wholly or in part by the shade from the peach trees, which would 

 offset the need of a heavier soil, that is, a cooler soil. Mr. E. B. Whyte of Ottawa 

 states that: " ^Eildew, the ,2Teat enemy of the English gooseberry in this country, 

 results from planting in sandy soils. The roots of gooseberry bushes run close to 

 the surface and consequently they become scorched. They should be planted in soil 

 that wont heat, such as heavy clay loam." This apparently conflicts with the state- 

 ment of the Niagara fruit grower, but. as noted above, the shading probably 

 acfonnts for the difference in opinion. 



Planting. 



Preparation of the. Soil. — Thorough preparation of the soil is necessary 

 before pla'diuir currants or gooseberries. Thev are heavy feeders so that the land 

 should receive a heavv dressing of well-rotted stable manure, be plowed deep, and 



