164: Lessons in Fruit Growing. 



sauce. The best strains of this fruit are remarkably pro- 

 ductive. The bush is the largest of the cultivated currants. 



B — THE GOOSEBERRIES 



244. The gfooseherries are more dwarfed and more slen- 

 der-stemmed than the currants, and are commonly some- 

 what thorny. The fruit is largely produced on wood of 

 the preceding season, and less on spurs than in the cur- 

 rant. The varieties of the European gooseberry are little 

 grown in this country, owing to their susceptibility to dis- 

 ease, but the native varieties are comparatively hardy and 

 are considerably cultivated. The fruit is generally used 

 immature for sauces, canning and preserving. 



245. Propagation. The gooseberries are less readily 

 propagated by cuttings than the currants, but are easily 

 propagated by mound-layering. The new growth, if covered 

 after it is several inches long, commonly roots by autumn. 

 The shoots may then be taken up and cut apart, retaining 

 a piece of the rooted main branch, and planted as directed 

 for currant cuttings (236). They should form good plants 

 by the following autumn. The slower-rooting varieties 

 may.be encouraged to root by breaking the bark slightly 

 at the time of covering the stems. 



246. Pruning. In addition to the pruning recommended 

 for the groselles (235), the size of the fruit may be increased 

 by cutting off one-third to one-half of the new growth just 

 before the leaves start in spring. 



24?". Insects and diseases. The gooseberry is more sub- 

 ject to damage from the imported currant worm than the 

 red currant, and the treatment recommended for the latter 

 (239) should be carefully observed. 



