Blackberries and Oooseherries 203 



up around the old plants in the spring will produce fruit 

 the following summer. These young canes should be 

 pruned when they have attained a height of eighteen 

 inches, so as to make them branch and form fruiting 

 canes for the next year's crop. In the fall, these canes 

 should be pruned again to about one -half their length. 

 After the fruit has been gathered, the old canes 

 should be cut out to give the new ones more room. Care 

 must be taken that too many suckers are not allowed to 

 grow. The plants should be cultivated frequently dur- 

 ing the summer or else covered with a good mulch of 

 leaves or straw. 



GOOSEBERRIES 



The gooseberry is not cultivated to any great extent 

 in the South, on account of the liability to mildew, 

 though it may be grown successfully in the mountain 

 regions or on northern exposures in the Piedmont belt. 

 It requires clay or clay -loam soil. It is propagated 

 principally by layering, as it cannot be easily grown 

 from cuttings. 



The American varieties, which alone are worth cul- 

 tivating in the South, may be grown from root cuttings. 



The fruit is usually gathered green, to be used in 

 pies or for canning. The ripe fruit is very pleasant food. 

 The plants live many years if properly managed. 



Pruning has for its principal objects opening the 

 head to prevent mildew and removing old canes to en- 

 courage the growth of new ones. 



Varieties. — Downing and Houghton are the best va- 

 rieties for the South. 



