THE GOOSEBERRY. 307 



a number of shoots are produced. As these grow up the 

 earth is drawn in around them, to favor the production 

 of other shoots at their base ; and in this way it is man- 

 aged until the requisite number of branches is obtained. 



Protection. Trained in this way, a trench is opened 

 for each branch, or three or four maybe put in one trench, 

 if convenient ; they are fastened down with hooked pegs 

 as in layering, and covered with a foot of earth, which 

 should be drawn up in the mound form, to throw off the 

 water. 



The fig is sometimes grown, at the North, in large pots 

 or tubs, and stored in a cool cellar or pit during winter. 



Ripening the Fruit. In fig-growing countries, and to 

 some extent here, there is a practice of applying a drop 

 of olive oil to the eye of the fruit, to hasten its maturity. 

 This is usually done by means of a straw. 



Training in Graperies. The back wall of a lean-to 

 cold vinery is an excellent place for the fig. It may be 

 trained on a trellis in a fan or horizontal manner, but 

 severe pruning must not be practised to produce regu- 

 larity. 



SECTION 11. PRUNING THE GOOSEBERRY. 



The gooseberry produces fruit buds and spurs on wood 

 two years old and upwards. Fig. 151 represents the two- 

 year-old wood, A, with fruit buds (7, (7, and J5, the one-year- 

 old wood with wood buds, ./), D. Of these wood buds, 

 the upper one next season would produce a shoot, and the 

 lower ones would probably be transformed into fruit buds. 

 At the base of one of the fruit buds, <7, may be seen a 

 small wood bud, d ; this during next season will produce 

 a small shoot or spur. The great point to aim at in this 

 country must always be to maintain a vigorous condi- 

 tion ; the moment the plant becomes feeble or stinted, the 

 fruit is so attacked with mildew or rust as to be utterly 



