GOOSEBERRIES 1 ' 5 n : ; 



MANURE AM) FERTILIZERS 



.The soil should contain an abundance of available plant food, 

 and there is but little danger of its being too rich. Annual 

 applications of stable manure applied during the dormant season 

 or in early spring are beneficial, and applications of commercial 

 fertilizers may be made as described under currants, page 1382. 

 Gooseberries are gross feeders, and the materials used by them 

 should be within reach of the comparatively small and shallow 

 root system. 



PROPAGATION 



American varieties of gooseberries may be propagated with 

 fairly good results by using cuttings as described under currants, 

 page 1382. The European kinds, however, do not root readily, 

 and for these mound-layering is resorted to, which method is also 

 followed to some extent for the American varieties. The tops 01 

 the bushes are cut back severely during the dormant period. This 

 results in the development of many young shoots the following 

 season. About the middle of July the earth is drawn up around 

 and among these shoots, leaving only the upper portions exposed. 



Shoots of most of the American varieties will have developed 

 a good root system by fall, but most European varieties require 

 two years to become well rooted. The rooted shooTs are cut away 

 from the old plants and are set in nursery rows for one or two 

 years, depending on their vigor. 



CULTURE 



Fall-setting is usually preferred for gooseberry plants, although 

 they may be planted with good results in the spring if the work is 

 done early. They should be set about six feet by four feet for 

 the small-growing varieties, while six feet by six feet will not 

 be too wide for those of vigorous habit. The method of setting 

 the plants is similar to that described under currant, page 1384, 

 as is also the subsequent treatment of cultivation and cover crops. 

 The plants must have thorough cultivation, and shallow, but fre- 

 quent, as the gooseberry is subject to greater injury from drouth 

 than is the currant. 



Plants may be pruned any time during the dormant period. 

 The bush form is usually preferable to the tree form. Five or six 

 shoots, well distributed, usually make a well-shaped top. Fruit 



