VINEYARD AND SMALL FRUITS. 215 



given it in moderate doses, and the actual condition of 

 the soil should govern the number of irrigations. 



Gooseberries. This fruit is not grown so com- 

 monly as it might be, and may be called the neglected 

 child of the garden. Prepare the soil in the spring by 

 deep plowing digging is even better. Turn it over to 

 the depth of two feet by first opening a trench, say two 

 feet wide, across the patch. Spread on the surface of 

 the ground well-decomposed manure, not less than three 

 inches deep, while six inches will do better. Then turn 

 it all over into the trench already opened. Do this until 

 the whole of the ground is well cultivated to the depth 

 of two feet, then plant out the bushes four feet apart 

 sich way and keep them well cultivated all through the 

 summer. In the fall give a good top-dressing of well- 

 rotted stable manure. Let the winter snow come on it 

 to leach down to the roots. When spring opens turn it 

 all into the ground, and the foundation is laid for pro- 

 ducing good gooseberries. During winter prune the 

 bushes vigorously. Have one main trunk if possible, 

 and a head composed of about six branches. Pinch out 

 the growth during summer, where it is not wanted, and 

 prune back in winter fully one-third of the cummer's 

 growth. The object is to let plenty of light and air into 

 the head of the bush. This will prevent every sign of 

 mildew. If these directions are followed, always bearing 

 in mind to stimulate by annually manuring and thinning 

 out the fruit, berries can be produced of the Whitesmith, 

 Crown Bob or Lancashire Red varieties that will be one 

 and a half inches in length. Two or three good irriga- 

 tions during the fruiting season should be given, and 

 once a month prior thereto ought to be sufficient. 



Currant culture should be carried out in much the 

 same way. The actual water required does not differ at 

 all from that demanded by the gooseberry, and the cul- 

 tivation of the ground is identically the same. After 



