GOOSEBERRIES CORDONS AND STANDARDS. 213 



When the branches are worn out a young shoot should be encouraged near the 

 base, and when the fruit is gathered the old branch may be cut out, training the fresh 

 one in its place. This is easy when the branches are 9 inches apart, but if only 6 

 inches asunder the leaves shade their neighbours too much, the growth is weak, and 

 the fruit small and indifferent in flavour. High training is not suitable for gooseberries. 

 They do admirably up to 6 feet. If above that height, though the branches may bear 

 well, they are apt to become deficient of wood at the base. 



Standards. Gooseberries are sometimes trained with round heads on tall stems. 

 The pendulous varieties form handsome heads, and produce grand fruits if grafted on 



Fig. 64. SINGLE AND DOUBLE VEIITICAL CORDON GOOSEBERRY TRAINING. 



References : M, erect-growing one-year-old plant, showing pruning for single cordon : a, leader ; 6, point of 

 shortening leader ; c, shoots to be shortened to within 1 inch of their bases (d) to form spurs. N, single cordon in first 

 year's training, representing summer and winter pruning : e y leader ; /, laterals pinched at one leaf: g, point of shorten- 

 ing leader in winter ; h, point of winter pruning laterals ; i, side shoots pinched ; j, point of winter pruning side shoots ; 

 k, natural spurs ; I, pinched growth from cut-back branch ; m, growth pinched and pushing laterals without starting 

 the basal buds ; n, point of shortening growths from cut-back branches in winter ; o, spurs formed by shortening 

 branches to 1 inch of their base. 0, one-year-old pendulous bush ; p, centre branch to be cut away ; q, side branches 

 nearly on a level to be shortened to the bars ; r, cordons brought upright after shortening dotted lines indicate direc- 

 tion of growths the following season. P, pendulous variety in first year's training for double cordon : s, leaders ; 

 t, side shoots pinched ; u, points of winter pruning side shoots ; v, natural spurs ; w, straining pillar with winders ; 

 x, stay ; y, standard ; z, wires (No. 13 I. W.G.), 1 foot apart in height ; a, temporary vertical wires. 



strong upright-growing varieties about 4 feet in height. These are raised in the same 

 way as standard currants (pp. 159-161), and then whip-grafted (page 122, Vol. I.) with 

 the desired variety. Standard trees are very interesting to amateurs. They may be 

 grown in sheltered situations, as in garden borders, alternately with pyramids, 



