cliuleil to trivo tlicin a clay soil. Wc selected a piece of wet meadow land, 

 through which flowed a small stream of water ; the soil was about six inches 

 muck, with a stilT clay subsoil. This land was thoroughly under-drained by 

 running: a drain four feet deep through the bed of the stream (it being dried uj) 

 by the extreme dry weather of that year) ; the main drain was intersected at right 

 angles, every two rods, by cross drains three feet deep ; these drains were tlien 

 pretty well lilled with stones, and closed in the usual manner; the ]>lat was then 

 thoroughly ploughed and subsoilcd, and manured with well rotted stable manure. 

 2s^o crop was taken of this year. 



About the middle of April, 1855, the imported plants were carefully taken up, 

 severely pruned, and planted in the i)lat jn-eparcd for their reception, in rows to 

 admit the cultivator. The summer of 1855, wc all know, was uncommonly wet, 

 over a large portion of the Union ; but the frequent heavy rains did not interfere 

 with our working the gooseberry plantation ; they started iinely, setting quite a 

 great deal of fruit, which they matured in the best manner ; they also made strong 

 and vigorous shoots, which continued to grow and retain their foliage till late in 

 the season. On the whole, wc have more than realized our most sanguine expec- 

 tations with the imported plants, they having been mildewed before we got them, 

 and having suffered from it two years subsequently, must undoubtedly have 

 enfeebled and debilitated them very much. 



"We believe that there is not a township in the State of New York but has land 

 adapted to the growth of the gooseberry, if a judicious selection of soil be made, 

 the laud properly prepared, and the plants pruned in a systematic manner. These 

 things must be attended to if the planter wishes or expects to have long-lived and 

 productive plantations ; and a few dollars expended in preparing the soil in a 

 suitable manner will never be regretted in after years, as the writer has abundant 

 evidence of. I have watched the inroads of the mildew in gooseberry plantations 

 attentively for a number of years ; it seems to be very much like the mildew that 

 is so troublesome in some places to the grape grower, and I believe it to be the 

 same. New plantations of this fruit generally produce well the first few years 

 (providing the plants are strong and vigorous when set) without pruning or much 

 care, that is if the soil be suitable, lint the enemy will, in a few years, show 

 itself, at first slightly attacking the weaker ones, doing but little harm the first 

 year ; but, once established in plantations that are neglected, it will increase with 

 fearful rapidity, and in two or three years ruin the most of the plants ; in fact, every 

 attack weakens and reduces their vigor, until they are fully ruined and worthless. 

 This is the way that this scourge appears, and extends itself in neglected gardens 

 and places that are not properly cared for, blighting and destroying both fruit and 

 plants, as well as the hopes of the grower. ]>ut the intelligent and industrious 

 cultivator always is rewarded for his labor by good crops of fine and handsome 

 fruit, that always commands a ready sale in the market, at a remunerating price. 



I will here state a case that came under my observation : A neighbor procured 

 a lot of good, strong cuttings, and set them in his garden ; gave them the best of 

 care ; in two years he was rewarded with about one hundred good, strong plants, 

 which were planted in a plat of warm, loamy soil, that had been previously well 

 prepared for their reception ; there were also a few large apple trees standing 

 in the plat, which shaded the ground some, but from their position not badly. 

 The first season they grew finely, and gave some fruit ; the second year they 

 received the same treatment, and produced some fine fruit, with which the owner 

 was much gratified and encouraged ; also some well developed specimens of mildew 

 on the weakest plants. The third year they set a heavy crop of fruit, and al 

 hibited considerable mildew (those plants that were affected the year previous 



