80 FRUIT GROWING FOR AMATEURS 



be well forked over, and a dressing of manure may then be given 

 with advantage. ' 



A rather novel way of obtaining a few extra fine Goose- 

 berries is to stand one or more saucers of rainwater on an in- 

 verted box or pot of suitable size so that the selected berry or 

 berries can be arranged to allow the tips to dip in the water. 

 Each branch containing the selected berries should be secured 

 to and steadied by a stake. The berries will feed on the rain- 

 water, which will assist swelling and development. Goose- 

 berries, particularly when ripe, are best gathered when they are 

 quite dry. 



Gooseberry trees must be kept free from caterpillars by hand- 

 picking or by dusting the bushes with lime or soot, which causes 

 the insects to fall to the ground. 



Gooseberries in Pots. The Gooseberry bush bears fruit 

 freely even when small, and thus may be grown in tubs or large 

 flower-pots those 12 inches wide at the top are suitable. The 

 plants should be potted firmly in good loamy soil, a little basic 

 slag and bonemeal being mixed with the compost. A few 

 pieces of broken flower-pot must be placed over the hole in the 

 base of the tub or flower-pot to ensure proper drainage. October 

 and November are the best months for the work. Both during 

 winter and summer it is advisable to plunge the pots to the 

 rim in ashes for the sake of protection from frost and to prevent 

 the soil becoming dry quickly in summer. Careful attention 

 to watering is required during summer ; it is important to keep 

 the soil moist. During winter the rains will, of course, supply 

 all the moisture necessary. 



Good Varieties. There are innumerable varieties of 

 Gooseberries of different colours to select from, and both small- 

 and large-fruited sorts. The following form a selection of the 

 best sorts having small fruits. Red : Ironmonger, Keen's Seed- 

 ling, Red Champagne, and Warrington. Yellow : Champagne 

 Yellow, Yellow Sulphur, and Golden Gem. Green : Greengage, 

 Green Gascoigne, and Langley Gage. White : Whitesmith. 

 Large-fruited sorts. Red: Crown Bob, Dan's Mistake, Lanca- 

 shire Lad, Speedwell, and Whinham's Industry. Yellow; 

 Keepsake, Langley Beauty, Gunner, and Leveller. Green: 

 British Queen and Plunder. White ; Antagonist, Careless, 

 Shiner, and Transparent. 



