332 SOME SPECIFIC ADVICE 



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 canes. 



"Gooseberries generally require 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 or 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. No definite rule can be given 

 for pruning gooseberries, because the kind and amount 

 required varies with the individual habits and condi- 

 tion of growth of the bush. A little attention each 

 year is necessary to keep the bushes in best shape for 

 cultivating, spraying, fruit picking, and for the free circu- 

 lation of air through and especially underneath the 

 branches. It is a mistake to think that the center of 

 the bush must be kept open to let the sunlight in, as is 

 sometimes advocated. In this climate the fruit may be 

 ruined by such unnatural exposure to direct sunlight, and 

 it is better to have it shaded by the foliage. 



