THE GARDEN. 



101 



Fig. 48. A gooseberry, 

 showing seeds, S, at- 

 attached to skin at P. 



GOOSEBERRIES. Our garden varieties have been developed 

 from natives of Europe and of America. 

 Fig. 48 shows a fruit cut across containing 

 the seeds, which are fastened to the skin 

 by little threads. The form is similar to 

 that of a grape. New bushes or plants 

 are produced by layers and cuttings. In 

 layering, a branch is bent over, a little 

 notch cut in the under side where it will 

 be under ground, then bent down and covered with soil, 

 leaving the tip above ground. After a 

 little, roots will appear near the notch, 

 and later on the branch may be cut 

 from the bush and a new plant will 

 thus be started. In using cuttings, 

 good thrifty stems or branches about 

 six inches long are cut in the fall or 

 early in spring and set out with the top 

 bud just above ground. These are 

 covered for the winter. The next 

 year they form good roots, and the 

 following year may be set out in rows. 

 To prevent suckers, the buds below ground are rubbed off. 



Seedlings of all the berries may be obtained by rubbing up 

 the ripe fruits with sand to separate the seeds and pulp. The 

 sandy seed is sown on the surface of a finely worked bed, well 

 enriched with decayed manure. The soil is kept shaded and 

 wet with a fine spray. The plants are afterwards pricked out 

 in another bed with mpre room and allowed to fruit to test. 



CURRANTS. These are grown very much as we grow goose- 

 berries. Most of our varieties belong to three classes : 



i. The Flowering Currant, which is grown as an ornamental 

 shrub. Its sweet-scented yellow flowers appear early in the 

 spring. The fruit is black and of decided flavor or taste. By 



Fig. 49 Reproducing plants 

 by layering. A is br.inch 

 bent over and buried, held 

 down by stake B. New 

 shoots C start up, which are 

 then cut off from parent 

 plant at D. 



