36 CURRANTS AND GOOSEBERRIES. 



Propagation. Most varieties do not grow as readily from 

 cuttings as the currant, and kinds with coarse wood it is almost 

 impossible to root in this way. For this reason layering is the 

 most common method of propagation. If the layers are carefully 

 put down in June after the new growth is several inches long each 

 twig will be found slightly rooted by autumn. They should then 

 be taken up, cut apart with a piece of the rooted main branch with 

 each twig. These little layers should be set out at once in the 

 spring and treated the same as recommended for currant cuttings. 

 Some varieties need to have the bark slightly broken when they 

 are laid down, but most kinds root readily without this trouble. 



Planting. Autumn is the time usually preferred for setting 

 the gooseberry. The sprouts start into growth so very early in the 

 spring that any delay at that time causes them a set-back from 

 which they may not readily recover. But plants may be very suc- 

 cessfully set in the spring if planted early. 



Pruning should consist in taking out any superfluous or weak 

 stems, as recommended for currants. Besides this, the size and ap- 

 pearance of the fruit of the common kinds will be greatly improved 

 if from one-third to one-half of the new growth is cut off annually. 

 However, some of the newer kinds- producing the largest fruit may 

 need this recommendation somewhat modified. Large fruit is 

 picked and sold most readily and the quantity produced from a 

 trimmed bush is, as a rule, fully as much as from one not trimmed. 

 This is especially true of our native kinds which are inclined to 

 overbear. 



Mildew (Sphaerotheca Mors-ievae) is the worst disease of the 

 gooseberry. It attacks the foliage which becomes covered with a 

 whitish mould. Later the leaves dry up and drop off and the wood 

 fails to mature. In bad cases the berries too are discolored, and 

 perhaps ruined. As a rule this disease does not cause serious in- 

 jury in good locations in this section, but in wet seasons, or any 

 season on wet land, or where there is a poor circulation of air, it 

 may be very destructive even here. 



Remedies. These should be preventive largely, and consist 

 of allowing plenty of room between the plants for a good circula- 

 tion of air and keeping them in as vigorous a state of health as 

 possible by manuring and cultivating. If the disease makes its 

 appearance in the face of these precautions recourse should be had 

 to the following remedy, which is very satisfactory : 



Spray the plants in the spring as soon as the young leaves 

 begin to unfold, and repeat it as often as once in eighteen or twenty 

 days, except in times of heavy rains when it must be done oftener. 

 For this purpose use liver of sulphur (pota-^mm sulphide) dissolved 

 in water at the rate of one-half ounce to the gallon. The liver of 

 sulphur dissolves very readily in hot water; costs from fifteen to 

 twenty cents per pound, and one gallon of the solution is enough 



