GOOSEBERRIES. 49 



that two side growths have been cut back at xx. 

 If these had not been shortened, the interior 

 of the bush would soon have become so crowded 

 that the hand could not be passed down be- 

 tween the branches for gathering the crop. A 

 very simple guide for the pruner is to let the 

 branches be far enough apart to admit the hand 

 between them without coming in contact with the 

 spines. A young shoot may be left here and there, 

 one of these being shown in the figure. If there 

 had not been space for the hand to pass down 

 between the two, the shoot would have been cut 

 back like the two others ; but as there is room, it is 

 left, and every bud on it may produce blossom, to 

 be followed by fruit. It is desirable to retain 

 young shoots their full length, or nearly so, in good- 

 sized bushes, even if an old wearing-out branch is 

 cut out or shortened, to make room for them ; there 

 must be no overcrowding, but always room for 

 reaching right into the centre of the bush. 



Now examine the branch above mentioned of 

 two-year-old wood with spurs, and one-year-old 

 wood with spines and buds only, in connection 

 with the bush shown in fig. 16, page 50, and it 

 will be apparent that this bush is composed 

 of a number of these branches. In order to make 

 the subject of pruning so clear that it cannot be 



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