2i8 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



occasioned by damp soon spreads from one berry to a whole cluster, and it is a notable 

 fact that gooseberries hang much better on cordon or espalier trees and escape birds better 

 than on bushes. The great difficulty in keeping gooseberries is damp, and thb can 

 only be warded off by employing a waterproof covering in wet weather, whilst accord- 

 ing a free circulation of air, mats as used for currants not suiting the gooseberry. 



Culture. Gooseberry plantations require identical treatment in respect of manuring 

 feeding, watering, and keeping the ground free from weeds as currants, which see, but 

 special varieties for particular purposes are given special cultural attention. 1. The 

 soil is removed from over the roots and a dressing of decayed manure applied, and 

 lightly covered with fresh loam in the autumn. 2. In spring (after the fruit commences 

 swelling) the roots are mulched with cow-dung or other manure, not allowing it to dry, 

 but sprinkling water over it occasionally. The trees are syringed in the morning and 

 evening of hot days for keeping the foliage clean and healthy. 3. Water is given 

 abundantly, yet not excessively, in dry weather. 4. The fruit is early and severely 

 thinned, and saucers of water are affixed under the individual berries, as before stated 

 (page 211), and trays of liquid manure are placed beneath the bushes, the vapour 

 being good for them and inimical to insects. 5. A light shading from fierce sun for a 

 few hours in the middle of hot days, and a canvas screen to windward when the weather 

 is dry and windy, hinders evaporation, and the conserved moisture benefits the trees and 

 fruits. 6. When ripening commences the fruit is protected from rain, a reversed 

 saucer answering over "weight" fruits, while "quality fruit" have panes of glass 

 placed over them to throw off rain. Perfected in this way some gooseberries attain an 

 astonishing size, while others are remarkable for superior quality. 



Forcing. The gooseberry succeeds well grown in pots or tubs, therefore may be 

 cultivated by those who have only a place in yards for growing fruit, where a few pois 

 of gooseberry bushes are interesting and useful. Owing to the "blacks" in towns 

 attempts have been made to grow the gooseberry under glass, but, though it succeeds 

 fairly well in cool houses, attempts to force it in green-houses have not been very 

 successful in consequence of insufficient ventilation in the early stages and often lack 

 of moisture afterwards. Still, the gooseberry may be forced, and the routine is the 

 same as that given for currants (page 164). 



DISEASES AND ENEMIES. 



Diseases. Some fungi infest gooseberries, depreciating the crops considerably. 



Gooseberry Fungus (^cidium (cluster-cup) grossularise). This parasite attacks the 



