In order to check weeds and at the same time add vegetable 

 matter to the soil, the author used to sow turnip seed between 

 the rows shortly before picking time, when a good tilth had been 

 obtained by hoeing; this made a good cover crop after picking 

 was over, and gave a useful yield of young turnips. 



The Gooseberry. This fruit is regarded as the hardiest and most 

 regular bearer of British fruits. Before planting, the land is well 

 cleaned, dunged, and deeply worked. The bushes are usually planted 

 about 5ft. apart, or, if large growing kinds, on good soil up to 6ft. 



Mr. Fred Neame, of Faversham, has supplied the actual cost 

 per acre of planting four acres in 1906, which is .as follows: 



Cost per Acre of Planting Gooseberries. 



s. d. 



Ploughing i o o 



Setting out ground for planting 5 V 4 ft. X 5 V/t- 5 

 Cost of 1512 two-year old bushes at 95-. per 100 with 



carriage 617 6 



Planting 017 6 



Twenty loads of dung at 4^ 4 o o 



Carting out and mulching at is. i ' /,//. i 2 6 



Total ... 14 2 6 



Mangolds were planted between the rows, and this helped to 

 pay the expenses of summer work. The price of 9*. per 100 for 

 gooseberries is a very moderate one; i2s. is more usual, and some- 

 times 14-f. per 100 for market sorts. The second year cultivation 

 will probably cost about 4 per acre, exclusive of rent, including 

 $s. for pruning. The crop the second year may be six half-bushels 

 of green gooseberries. Strawberries are frequently grown with 

 gooseberries for the first four or five years. 



The cost of cultivation would be as follows: 



Annual Cost of Cultivating Gooseberries. 



s. d. 



(November) Pruning r ^ 



Clearing cuttings o 5 o 



Each alternate year 20 tons dung with cartage, 6 

 us. %d. ; wheeling on and spreading, io.f. ; =r 7 



is. &/. Half cost 3 10 10 



Digging with fork r o 



(April to September) Hand hoeing four times . . . i 8 o 

 Picking 2 tons green gooseberries (or 3 tons ripe) .500 

 Packing 187 half bushels at 2s. 100 halves ...039 



Carriage, 2 tons at 16*. (3 tons at i6s. 2 8s. od.} . i 12 o 



Sale expenses, $d. per half bushel 3 2 4 



Rent, rates, and taxes 2 10 o 



Cost ... 19 16 ii 



