NOTES ON THE GOOSEBERRY. 



gooseberry does not strike roots very freely from cuttings. After plants are put 

 out where they are to remain, and the suckers taken oif, as I before stated, for 

 two or three years, they generally give in and quietly submit to the treatment — 

 nature making no further efforts of the sort. I have old plants that have been 

 treated in this way for a number of years, that are perfect specimens of beauty 

 and fruitfulness, measuring three inches in diameter, and showing as much vigor 

 as when three or four years old. In setting out large plantations of this fruit, a 

 heavy soil, well under-drained, thoroughly manured, and deeply ploughed, should 

 be selected, if possible. They should be planted in rows four feet apart, and 

 three feet distant in the rows, and the ground kept in good order by the frequent 

 use of the cultivator and hoe. 



It has been frequently asserted that the gooseberry never mildews in England. 

 From this general opinion I must beg leave to dissent, as I happen to know some 

 facts to the contrary. In February, 1853, the writer was in England, and pur- 

 chased, of a large establishment in the vicinity of Liverpool, several hundred 

 plants. It was observed that many of them presented a singular appearance, 

 being very much drawn and distorted, and evidently showing disease. Suspecting 

 it was caused by mildew, the proprietor, Mr. Scirving, was asked the reason, when 

 he frankly admitted that such was the case, remarking that the disease was 

 much more prevalent in the vicinity of the sea-shore than further in the interior 

 of the country, and suggested the necessity of bard pruning, and the best of culti- 

 vation, to counteract the disease. These plants were taken up and packed in moss, 

 in a large box, and shipped on the 15th of the above-mentioned month, and reached 

 their destination on the 15th of March following, being about one month on the 

 passage. On opening the box, it was found that the buds were all started, and 

 many of them in leaf. The spring being late, with much frost in the ground, we 

 were unable to plant them till near the 1st of May; the plants, in the meantime, 

 were securely stored in a cellar. A piece of warm, loamy soil was selected, and 

 prepared by deep and frequent ploughing, and also well manured. The plants 

 were then set in rows to admit the horse and cultivator. The ground was also 

 occupied as an apple orchard, trees thirty feet apart, about twelve years planted. 

 The gooseberries, however, were not planted within six feet of the trees. On 

 setting the plants, they had every appearance of being in fine order, notwithstand- 

 ing their long confinement, the roots and buds appearing as good as the day they 

 were taken up. After planting, they had the best of care bestowed on them ; the 

 ground was frequently worked with the cultivator, and every weed carefully 

 destroyed. They started finely, and gave promise of making a good growth, till 

 about the middle of August, when it was observed that they had the appearance 

 of having been dusted over with ashes, the extreme ends of the young shoots show- 

 ing the most of it. They ceased growing, about this time, entirely; and, by the 

 1st of September, the foliage was all off. Thinking the reason of their doing so 

 badly the first year, might possibly be owing to their being planted so late, and 

 not being pruned, we determined to try "different management the next year. 

 Early in April, 1854, we gave them a moderate ])runing, manured each one with 

 a shovel full of well rotted manure, and worked the ground as soon as it was in 

 order. This year was uncomraoidy dry, and we did expect that the dry weather 

 would have a tendency to counteract the mildew ; but it did not. They grew 

 finely, setting considerable fruit till about midsummer, when they were suddenly 

 ari'ested in their growth by their old enemy, the mildew ; and, by the middle of 

 September, they lost all their foliage. We now became satisfied that it would be 

 necessary to remove them to a soil of a different texture, taking the hint from the 

 fact of our old gooseberries in the garden doing so well in a heavy soil, w 



