EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 61? 



Gooseberries are propagated from cuttings and by layering. The 

 method of propagation from cuttings is the same as described for the 

 currant. Many varieties do not root readily from cuttings, and they 

 are commonly propagated by mound layering. When this is practiced, 

 the bushes are cut back severely in the fall. This induces the growth 

 of a large number of strong vigorous young shoots the following season. 

 About the middle of July, when the shoots have nearly completed their 

 growth, soil is heaped up around and through the bushes leaving only 

 the tips of the shoots exposed above the mound. Each shoot becomes 

 rooted and may then be handled as a separate plant. Shoots of the 

 American varieties produce good roots the same season and the separate 

 plants may be removed from the mound and transplanted in the fall or 

 they may be left until the following spring. Those of the English varie- 

 ties require a longer time to produce a satisfactory root system and are 

 left in the mound two seasons before separating. The rooted shoots are 

 removed from the mounds and planted immediately or more commonly 

 they are transplanted to nursery rows and grown for one or two seasons 

 before they are used. 



PLANTING 



^oil Preparation. Thorough preparation of the soil is important. The 

 land should be well manured and plowed deeply and the soil prepared 

 by disking and harrowing until it is in a fine mellow condition to re- 

 ceive the plants. Well rotted stable manure applied in the fall or early 

 spring and thoroughly worked into the soil in its first preparation helps 

 to put it in a good water-holding condition and insures a quick, vigorous 

 growth of the plants the first season. In places where manure cannot 

 be obtained the soil should be built up by plowing under clover or other 

 leguminous crops. Sod lands should be broken up and planted to some 

 cultivated crop at least a year before the plants are set. Quack grass 

 and other troublesome weeds must be destroyed for there is nothing which 

 will run out a plantation of currants or gooseberries quicker than to 

 allow quack grass to get in. 



Distance of Planting. The distance of planting currants and goose- 

 berries depends upon the fertility of the soil and the habit and vigor 

 of the variety grown. They are commonly planted four feet apart in 

 rows six feet apart. This allows for cultivation in one direction and 

 occasional cross cultivation when necessary to clean out the rows. If 

 it is desired to cultivate both ways a distance of five feet apart each way 

 is satisfactory for the smaller growing varieties, while six by five, or 

 six by six feet will be found a better distance for those of a more spread- 

 ing and vigorous habit. Black currants are strong growers and should 

 be given a little more space then the reds. 



Time of Planting. The best time to plant currants or gooseberries 

 is in the fall, though they may be planted with satisfactory results in the 

 spring if the work is done early. The plants may be set any time after 

 the leaves drop or the wood ripens in the fall, and if they are set fairly 

 early, there is time for the plants to become well established before 

 freezing weather sets in. They are then ready to commence growth as 

 soon as the first favorable conditions are present in the spring. The 

 chief objection to spring planting is that it is liable to be delayed until 



