The Canadian Horticulturist. 



213 



GOOSEBERRIES. 



HE gooseberry itself is fond of a cool, moist soil, and does best in 

 a climate like that of England, where it has reached the greatest 

 perfection, both in size and flavor. The hot, dry climate here 

 ripens it too rapidly to allow it to acquire this flavor. The Eng- 

 lish varieties are larger and finer than the American, but have not 

 succeeded here on account of the mildew. Fortunately, we now 

 have a sure remedy for this disease, and when it becomes gener- 

 ally known, it may be that a new era of gooseberry culture will 

 dawn upon us. 



Soil and Cultivation. — A cool, moist, rich soil, full of 

 vegetable matter, with northern aspect, if possible, well manured 

 with compost, is necessary to the best results. But, although 

 the soil should be moist, it should be well drained. The plant 

 will not tolerate stagnant water about its roots, nor in a stagnant soil. It will 

 soon become hidebound and the sterns covered with moss. But to secure the- 

 necessary coolness and moisture, the ground should be well mulched with well- 

 rotted compost. In making this statement it is intended to aim for the highest 

 results, as I ^believe more profit will result from this course. 



The famous growers of Lancashire, England, outdo the world in producing 

 berries of quality and size. The Encyclopedia of Gardening, says : 



"To effect this increased size, every stimulant is applied that their ingenuity 

 can suggest ; they not only- annually manure the soil richly, but also surround 

 the plant with trenches of manure for the extremities of the roots to strike into, 

 and form around the stems of each plant a basin to be mulched, manured or 

 watered as may become necessary. When a root has extended too far from the 

 stem, it is uncovered, and all the strongest leaders are shortened back nearly 

 one-half of their length and covered with fresh marl loam, well manured. The 

 effect of this pruning is to increase the number of fibres and spongioles, which 

 form rapidly on the shortened roots, and strike out in all directions among the 

 fresh newly-stirred loam in search of nutriment." 



Pruning. — The gooseberry produces fruit buds and spurs on wood two 

 years old and over. Patrick Barry says : " The bush should have a stem of 

 three or four inches in height and a head composed of five or six main branches, 

 placed at equal distances, and inclined outwards to prevent denseness and 

 confusion in the centre. These main branches should be furnished with bearing 

 wood in all their length. The production of such a bush may be accomplished 

 by the following means : 



Supposing the young plant as it comes from the nursery to be either a two 

 year old cutting or a one-year bedded layer, in either case it will have a stem of 



