STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. I5I 



Late in June or in July when the new wood has become some- 

 what hardened a mound of earth is made about the "stool," the 

 earth being about four or five inches deep above the bases of the 

 shoots. In the fall the earth is removed and the rooted shoots 

 are cut ofif and planted at once in well prepared soil, or they may 

 be tied in bundles and treated as cuttings tmtil the following 

 spring. If care is used in removing shoots during the winter, 

 propagation from the same plants may proceed indefinitely 

 from year to year. 



VARIETIES. 



The varieties in common cultivation are included in two well 

 defined classes. The American or those which have been 

 developed from our native species, mostly Ribcs oxycanthoidcs, 

 and the European which belongs to a different species — Ribcs 

 Grossularia. The American varieties are of comparatively recent 

 origin and it is but few years since gooseberry growing was a 

 profitable industry in this country. The European varieties 

 are very large and have the advantage of a great variety of 

 coloring. They are, however, susceptible to mildew and only 

 in certain favored localities have they proved successful. 



Of the American varieties the most valuable are the Down- 

 ing, Smith's Improved and Pale Red. Downing is much 

 superior to the other in size and quality. It is a relatively large 

 fruit and of a golden color when mature. It is not quite as 

 prolific as Houghton but the fruit is much more attractive and 

 therefore it is the variety most popular in the market. 



Of the European sorts Industry and White Smith lead. These 

 are very large varieties and are ready for use earlier than are 

 the American varieties. • Where known they are highly prized. 



PRODUCTIVENESS OF GOOSEBERRIES. 



The yield of gooseberries as reported by different growers 

 varies greatly, but about 100 bushels is considered a fair aver- 

 age by many. A recent bulletin of the New York Agricultural 

 Experiment Station cites an instance in which the yield from 

 800 Downing plants set four years was 2362 quarts, an average 

 of three quarts per bushel or about 5143 quarts per acre. This 

 was considered a full crop. Other reports place the average 



