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GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



branches of the bush. The opposite end of the cutting i.e. where 

 the buds were cut out is inserted in the ground, five inches or six 

 inches deep. First, take the shoot from the bush, and prepare it 

 afterwards. It is not always possible to obtain the cuttings of one 

 particular length, but whether the latter are rather longer or shorter 

 than the above dimensions does not signify. The object in view is to 

 have a firm shoot the buds of which have been removed to within 

 about five inches of its apex sufficiently long to be placed 

 six inches in the soil, and then leave a stem eight inches or 

 ten inches above ground. Thoroughly eradicate the buds 

 from the lower portion of the stem, or growths will eventually 

 push from them and prove annoying. Such growths are 

 known as suckers, and, if allowed to grow, soon crowd into 

 and interfere with the development of the branches proper, 

 besides having an untidy appearance and preventing a free 

 use of the hoe and the application of manure. The more 

 one cuts them back the stronger they reappear. The only 

 way to destroy them is to get down to the buds, whence they 

 originate, and cut them completely out. This, however, can- 

 not be done without injury to the roots ; it is therefore wise 

 to make sure that the bud is properly removed in the first 

 place. After having prepared the cuttings plant them out 

 in rows on a shady border. Make the rows twelve inches 

 apart, and let the cuttings be about six inches from each 

 other in the rows. This work should be done as soon as the 

 cuttings are ready October or early November. The follow- 

 ing autumn transplant them into rows eighteen inches apart, 

 with a distance of twelve inches between each. After another 

 year has passed they may be placed in their permanent 

 quarters in the garden. 



Forming and Training the Bush. Suppose that the pre- 

 pared cutting has passed safely through the winter, and that 

 the buds have pushed into growth. Four or five buds may 

 have been left at the apex of the cutting ; it is therefore safe 

 to assume that three of them have commenced to grow. If 

 such be not the case the cutting is not worth keeping. The 

 object of removing the lower buds in preparing the cutting, 

 GOOSEBERRY besides guarding against suckers, was to obtain a clear stem of 

 CUTTING several inches between the ground and the lowest branches of 

 the bush. Allow the shoots that will develop from three of the 

 buds upon the upper end of the cutting to grow freely throughout the 

 summer, and also laterals that make their appearance. In early 

 winter prune the three principal shoots back to about six inches in 

 length, and cut all the laterals to within half an inch of the base. 

 The following spring two shoots should be allowed to develop 

 from the three primary branches that were shortened in winter. 

 At the close of the second summer there will thus be six branches. 

 Next winter shorten these also to within about ten inches of their 

 bases. In spring encourage two more shoots from each of the six 



