GOOSEBERRIES SOIL AND ARRANGEMENT. ivj 



Situation. An open site is imperative to secure the fullest crops of the best-flavoured 

 fruit, but shelter from north and east winds renders the crop less liable to suffer from 

 spring frosts. The fruit does not attain the highest perfection in hot and dry situations 

 without recourse to mulching and watering in dry weather. Moist sites suit the goose- 

 berry provided the ground is freed of superfluous water by natural or artificial drainage. 

 Southern exposures are desirable in the north, as early fruit is the most valuable. 

 Northern aspects answer when not bleak, and in hot and dry localities are preferable, 

 as the fruit is more shielded from hot sunshine, which tends to prematurely ripen it 

 in the southern counties. Apart from these considerations open, sunny situations are 

 requisite to produce the essentially British gooseberry in perfection. 



Soil. The gooseberry has not changed since Tusser's time in its liking fora "rotteny 

 mould " alluvial ; any good soil sufficiently loose and permeable for its roots, with suffi- 

 cient humus to keep it moist. Light, shallow, gravelly soils do not suit gooseberries, 

 and strong clays that bake and crack in hot dry weather are practically useless. A 

 good loamy soil is unquestionably the best, as it is not so expensive to prepare for plant- 

 ing as stiff soil, nor so exacting in after needs as light soil, and it returns the best 

 profits. The soil ought not to be less than 12 inches deep, and below that a similar 

 depth of fairly good loosened mould. The gooseberry is a shallow rooting bush, yet a 

 good depth of soil is requisite to hold moisture and nutriment. In trenching or digging 

 the ground the good soil should be kept at thj top, mixing the manure, if any is 

 applied, with the upper 6 inches. Add lightening materials with heavy soil, and render 

 light soil more retentive by loam of a stronger nature and cow manure incorporated 

 through it, seeking in all a rich permeable staple. 



Arrangement. In most parts of the country and for general purposes the bush form 

 is the best. The bushes may be placed in rows 6 feet asunder where the soil is rich, 

 and 5 feet in ordinary soil. Compact growers may be accommodated in rows 4 feet 

 apart. As a rule, gooseberries are placed much too close together for full development, 

 and too far apart for early productiveness. Temporary bushes may be grown between 

 the permanent ones for a few years, the former to be transplanted when the latter 

 require the whole space ; there is then no waste of ground, whilst the ultimate results 

 are more satisfactory. The bushes are best arranged in " opposite vacancy " order, and 

 with the rows running north and south. 



Pyramids at 6 feet apart and standards between them are interesting and useful in 

 borders along the sides of walls in gardens. 



