CHAPTER XIII 

 The Gooseberry 



THE Gooseberry is a favourite fruit with amateurs, and not 

 without good reason, for as a rule it crops freely, is easily man- 

 aged, and the fruits are useful both in a green state and when 

 ripe. The bushes thrive in ordinary soil that has been deeply 

 dug and with which some yard manure is mixed. November 

 is the time to plant ; the bushes ought to be at least 5 feet 

 apart. Deep planting should be avoided ; if the uppermost 

 roots are covered with about 2 inches of soil, that is sufficient. 

 It is necessary to make the soil thoroughly firm about the roots. 



Pruning. The Gooseberry bears fruit both on spurs and 

 on shoots of the previous year's growth. Spurs are short, 

 stunted growths that develop when side shoots are pruned to 

 within one or two buds of the stems each winter. Some growers 

 prune all the side shoots of the Gooseberry in this fashion, but 

 it is a mistake to do so. Whenever there is room, some of the 

 best shoots of the previous year's growth ought to be left two- 

 thirds or three-quarters of their full length ; they will, as a rule, 

 bear fruit freely, and, moreover, the fruit so obtained is of fine 

 quality. 



The branches must be kept well apart from each other, at 

 such a distance that the hand may be passed through them 

 conveniently. Unless the branches are sufficiently wide apart 

 to allow air and light to reach the buds, the bushes are not likely 

 to thrive. One often sees Gooseberry bushes that are so crowded 

 with shoots that the work of gathering the fruit becomes a 

 matter of difficulty. In pruning, care should be taken to remove 

 branches that are so low that when laden with fruit they will 

 drag on the ground and so render the fruit useless. 



It is usual to defer the pruning of Gooseberries until early 

 February, owing to the damage done to the buds by birds. 

 Useful protection is afforded during winter by tying the branches 

 together with stout string, making bundles of them into which 



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