358 BUSH-FRUITS 



Like the currant, the gooseberry is a northern 

 plant, and refuses to be content in a hot climate. It 

 proves a complete failure in the southern states and 

 along the Gulf coast. In Nebraska it seems to thrive 

 better than the currant. It loses its leaves early, and 

 the fruit is decidedly smaller than in the eastern 

 states, yet the plants make a good growth, appear 

 healthy, except in the early loss of leaves, and are 

 fairly productive. The English varieties produce an 

 occasional fruit, but so far as tested may be termed a 

 practical failure. It should be remembered that the 

 summers are here hot and dry, consequently unfavor- 

 able to these fruits. Frequently, however, the early 

 part of the season is favorable, so that the fruit 

 has an opportunity to mature before severe heat and 

 drought affect it. The chief injury in that case is 

 undoubtedly in the early loss of leaves and conse- 

 quent enfeebled condition of the bush the succeeding 

 year. 



SOIL AND LOCATION 



The gooseberry is much like the currant in its soil 

 demands. A cool, moist, strong and rich soil, deeply 

 worked, is the requisition which it makes, and the 

 more unfavorable the location in the way of climate, 

 the more closely will this demand in the way of soil 

 need to be met. Well to the north, in high alti- 

 tudes or cool northern exposures, it will succeed well 

 on sandy or even gravelly loam, though the rule is 

 that the lighter the soil the less satisfactory the crop. 

 Still, the opposite extreme is not advisable. A muck 



