Pruning and Training 



cutting which goes below ground. Black currants, 

 when well grown, are the most profitable of all 

 fruits, and they pay well for regular attention and 

 proper pruning. 



I know of one large grower who plants black 

 currant bushes 2 feet apart in the rows, instead of 

 the usual 4 feet, and every other bush is cut down 

 in alternate years. The plantation is on heavy land, 

 the manuring is heavy also, and " mite " is unknown. 



GOOSEBERRIES AND RASPBERRIES. 



The gooseberry produces the finest fruit on two- 

 year-old wood, and this determines the pruning. 

 First of all the centre of the bush should be cleared, 

 then the weakest of the young growth should be cut 

 out, and the remaining strong young shoots should 

 be thinned out if necessary. Finally the young 

 shoots which remain should be shortened back, 

 but not too severely ; about one-third at the most 

 should be cut off. Next year's "leaders" will 

 grow in whatever direction the end bud on a 

 pruned shoot happens to be pointing, and this must 

 be remembered in dealing with gooseberries. The 

 young growth in some cases has a drooping tendency ; 

 this can be remedied by pruning to an upward- 

 pointing bud. 



In a properly pruned bush it should be possible 

 to insert the hand downwards between any of the 

 branches without difficulty. 



The pruning of gooseberries should be done as 

 early as possible in the autumn, and all prunings 

 should be burnt to prevent the spreading of Ameri- 

 can Gooseberry Mildew. (See page 72.) 



Raspberries and allied fruits such as the logan- 



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