The Culture of the Currant and the Gooseberry 1605 



American varieties: Peari, Downing, and Red Jacket. 



English varieties : Companion, Eagle, Glenton Green, Queen of Trumps, 

 Snowball, Whitesmith, and Industry. 



Other varieties are mentioned and described in the various publications 

 on the gooseberry, and offered for sale by nurserymen. It is the purpose 

 of this bulletin, however, to discuss only the more important and com- 

 moner varieties and not to confuse the reader by citing a long list. Brief 

 descriptions of a few common commercial varieties follow: 



Downing. — Most widely grown variety, very productive; fruit medium 

 in size, soft, juicy; good quality; season medivmi; strong grower; rarely 

 attacked by mildew. 



Pearl. — Closely resembles the Downing; productive; fruit medium, 

 ;"uicy, sweet; quality good; season medium; bush upright grower; rarely 

 attacked by mildew. 



Red Jacket. — Productive; fruit larger than the Pearl and Downing; 

 good quality; season medium; bush strong grower; not subject to mildew; 

 a good variety. 



Chautauqua. — An English variety, somewhat lacking in productiveness ; 

 fruit large, smooth, pale green; of best quality; bush a vigorous grower; 

 generally healthy. 



PLANTING AND MANAGEMENT 



Since the gooseberry and currant are similar plants in many respects, 

 particularly as to manner of growth, the directions for planting, culti- 

 vation, fertilization, and pruning as given for one apply equally well to 

 the other. For directions as to these operations, therefore, the reader is 

 referred to the corresponding subject under the currant. 



DISEASES 



Gooseberry mildew 



A study of the patches in New York State indicates that the mildew is 

 practically the only serious disease with which the growers have to con- 

 tend. As this disease and the methods of its control are well described 

 by Professor W. T. Macoun,* the writer quotes directly from his de- 

 scription : 



" The gooseberry mildew has prevented the general culture of the 

 English gooseberry in America. This disease attacks the leaves, twigs, 

 and fruit. When the attack is bad it destroys the foHagc, covers the 

 fruit, and causes most of it to drop. It saps the growing shoots to such 

 an extent that they do not ripen properly, and dry up without setting 

 fruit buds. It thus practically destroys the crop. The disease is ap- 



* " Bush Fruits," by W. T. Macoun. Bulletin 56, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Canada, 

 p. 28. 



