GOOSEBEEKY. 219 



spent hops from a brewery can be obtained, they should 

 be used in preference to hay or straw. Good culture is 

 required to produce good crops, the same as with other 

 fruits. 



MILDEW. This is the one great enemy to the Goose- 

 berry in the United States. It not only attacks the fruit, 

 but often extends over the whole plant, effectually check- 

 ing its growth. 



So prevalent has this disease become, that the foreign 

 varieties are almost universally discarded, as there are few 

 locations where they will succeed. 



There are many remedies which have been from time 

 to time recommended, and they often appear to be effectual, 

 while in other instances they are of no use whatever. 



The following remedies against mildew are worth try- 

 ing, although they cannot be called radical cures : 



Scatter flour of sulphur over the bushes soon after 

 the berries have set, and repeat the application occasion- 

 ally until the fruit is ripe. 



Water the plants with strong soap-suds, or dissolve one 

 pound of potash in a barrel of water, and then sprinkle 

 the plants once a week with it. 



Soak fresh mown or dry hay in brine for twelve hours ; 

 then cover the entire surface of the soil about the plants 

 with this, as a mulch. If hops, tan bark, or other mulch 

 has previously been applied, then sprinkle it with salt ; a 

 single handful to each plant will be sufficient. 



All of these remedies will often fail, but still they are 

 worth trying. Old plants are more liable to suffer from 

 mildew than young ones, therefore it is best to keep a 

 supply of fresh plants always on hand; in fact, so long as 

 you can keep the plant growing vigorously, there is but 

 little danger from mildew. 



I have often seen the foreign varieties doing splendidly 

 in a half shady situation, such as the north side of a wall 

 or fence, or in the shade of trees ; but such a situation 



