182 THB GOOSEBERRY. 



In those parts of the Maritime Provinces where the sea fogs 

 prevail, the European varieties of the Gooseberry succeed, but 

 farther inland, beyond their influence, the same difficulties are 

 experienced. 



The foreign, or European varieties of Gooseberry, suffer more 

 from this pecvJiar condition of our atmosphere than some of our 

 native sorts, and doubtless the cultivation of the English varieties 

 will always be attended with great difficulty. It is almost use- 

 less to undertake their cultivation in a sandy soil. In a deep and 

 very rich clay loam, they may thrive, but they will require care- 

 ful culture, thorough pruning, abundant manuring, and in most 

 places to be thoroughly mulched with hay or straw, or some 

 coarse material, and well watered. An occasional sprinkling 

 of salt on the mulch, in moderate quantity, has been found to 

 be serviceable in helping to maintain a suitable humidity. 



The propagation of the Goose- 

 berry is both by cuttings and 

 by layering. Usually cuttings 

 will succeed well. Kew varie- 

 ties are obtained from seed. 

 Seedlings of European varieties 

 have not proved to be suited to 

 our climate, but there is every 

 •^s- ^^- reason to believe that seedlings 



from some of our native sorts may yet be obtained of good size 

 and flavor, and which will be adapted to the climate, and free 

 from mildew. 



The process of layering is shown at fig. 63. It consists in 

 bending down a branch, on one side of which a tongue has been 

 cut with a sharp knife, and fastening the cut part below the sur- 

 face of the soil, by means of a hooked peg. 



The varieties of foreign Gooseberries are too numerous to be 

 given here, and every year gives us additions to the list. They 

 are aD fine berries where they can be grown, and all subject to 

 mildew, in most places and seasons. 



