338 Report of thd Horticulturist op the 



is covered with earth in planting. No underground shoots, or 

 suckers, will then be formed and the plant will have but one 

 main stem or trunk. By annually cutting back new shoots to 

 about three eyes and removing all weak or crowded branches the 

 tree form may easily be kept in symmetrical shape. 



For general purposes it is best to set plants that will send up 

 suckers. The older canes which have passed their period of 

 highest productiveness may then be removed annually and their 

 places taken by young vigorous ones which have been allowed to 

 grow for this purpose. By this method of renewal, the skillful 

 grower may keep his plantation in a high state of productiveness 

 for an indefinite period. Including the young canes which are 

 to be used for renewal as above suggested there will usually be 

 five or six canes to a bush, or even a greater number than this 

 with varieties of the American class which have more slender 

 caneB. Figure 3, plate XXIII, shows the bush form of Industry 

 before pruning and after a season of very vigorous growth. 

 Figure 4, plate XXIII, shows the same bush after being pruned. 

 This bush was planted nine years ago. 



Gooseberries generally require but little pruning during the 

 first two or three years after they are planted except to clip a 

 few inches off from the strong new shoots and a less amount from 

 the less vigorous ones. This may be done at any time after the 

 leaves fall. The object is to favor the development of the fruit 

 spurs all along the cane. If it is not done the strong buds at 

 or near the end of the cane will start into such vigorous growth 

 in spring that the lower buds will not start or will make but 

 little growth, so that eventually most of the fruiting branches 

 and spurs will be developed near the upper end of a long cane 

 which, when loaded with fruit, is apt to bend nearly or quite to 

 the ground. 



Besides heading in the bushes in the way just described the 

 pruning consists in removing weak pr broken branches and those 

 which have made an excessively vigorous growth. Old canes 

 that have passed the age of greatest productiveness, and branches 

 that are close to the ground should also be taken away. 



