562 THE FRUIT GARDEN. [Nov. 



Gooseberries and Currants. 



This is a very suitable and proper season for the planting and 

 pruning of gooseberries and currants; but for particulars I refer 

 you to pages 52(> and 527. 



Cuttings of either kind may now be planted as directed in page 

 293, but they must be stout and pretty long, so as to be planted 

 about ten inches deep, or the frost during winter will be very apt 

 to throw them out of the ground. 



Gooseberry seed may now be sown as directed in page 527, 

 with a view to obtain new varieties. Currants and raspberries 

 may in like manner be raised from seed, and improved sorts ob- 

 tained thereby. 



Raspberries. 



As long as the weather continues open you may transplant and 

 make new plantations of raspberries; but the earlier in the month 

 that this can be done the better, especially if you have to trans- 

 plant the Antwerp varieties. For further information on the sub- 

 ject of planting and pruning raspberries, see page 528, &c. 



The red and white Antwerp kinds are excellent fruit, and less 

 hardy than the other varieties; consequently, it will be necessary, 

 in the eastern and middle states, to lay down the young shoots of 

 the present season immediately previous to the commencement of 

 hard frost, first cutting oft' close to the ground the shoots which 

 had borne fruit the preceding summer. The supernumerary weakly 

 shoots may also be cut oft', and likewise the straggling tops of those 

 you intend to lay down, or they may now have a general and final 

 pruning as directed in page 138. 



This done, dig the earth between the rows, clearing out all use- 

 less suckers and weeds, previously adding some very rotten manure, 

 if the ground seems to need it, then, being provided with some 

 hooked wooden pegs and a number of long, small hoop-poles, or 

 the like, lay down each row of shoots gently on one side, on which 

 lay the hoop-poles, lengthwise the rows, pegging them down with 

 the hooked sticks, so as to keep the shoots close to the earth; after 

 which cover all over with light litter, straw, hay, barley chaff, fern, 

 leaves of trees, or any other light covering that will protect the 

 plants from the effects of the various changes of the weather, which, 

 and not the frost only, are the causes of their destruction. Here 

 they will remain in safe and good condition till the beginning of 

 March, when the litter is to be taken oft, the plants raised up, and 

 the ground receive its spring dressing. 



Some lay the shoots into, and cover them with the earth; but 

 although this has a clean appearance, and sometimes will answer 

 very well, the buds will be more liable to receive injury in this 

 way than when covered with light litter as above. 



