GOOSEBERRIES. 47 



the branches are at the least doubled in number 

 the next season, as indicated by the dotted lines 

 (page 45). Instead of four we now have eight, 

 and may have more. These branches need not be 

 shortened materially, and if they do not exceed a 

 foot in length, the removal of two or three inches 

 from the ends will suffice ; if they much exceed a 

 foot, cut them back to that length after the leaves 

 fall.' In doing this, let an apparently small matter 

 be attended to, for it is of far greater moment than 

 it may seem to the inexperienced. See that the 

 end bud left after cutting is a good one and pointing 

 upwards or outwards, not downwards or inwards, 

 for the growth that follows will be in the direction 

 in which the bud points, and if that is downwards, 

 or towards the centre of the tree, either crowding 

 will be induced, or low, flat bushes formed ; we 

 want an open bush, as upright as the variety will 

 allow, and with the branches well clear of the 

 ground, even when the weight of fruit drags them 

 towards it. 



Pruning. As the bushes attain size, pruning 

 must be resorted to, and just as it is intelligently 

 conducted, so will the crops be. Some Gooseberry 

 bushes in the gardens of cottagers and small farmers 

 are never pruned, the result being small fruit and 

 speedily exhausted trees ; on the other hand, when 



