284 Bush-Fruits 



the crop. However, the opposite extreme is not advisable. 

 A muck soil will produce a strong growth but diminished 

 productiveness, while a heavy, cold clay is hard to work, 

 and may cause the bushes to heave. A strong clay loam, 

 not liable to injury from drought, but well drained, well 

 enriched, deeply worked and subsoiled, is the ideal. A 

 cool northern exposure is desirable, if it can be had. Par- 

 tial shade may be an advantage, but the plant does not 

 appear to thrive under the shade of trees as well as the 

 currant. For home use, the north side of a fence or of 

 buildings is a good location. Proper selections of soil 

 and location will do much to preserve a healthy condition 

 of the bush, retain the foliage and prevent mildew. 



/ 



FERTILIZERS 



Growers of long experience agree that no fertilizer is 

 better for gooseberries than good cow manure, liberally 

 applied. The plants are gross feeders, and a heavy top- 

 dressing every autumn will be profitably utilized. This 

 may be supplemented with a dressing of wood-ashes, or 

 other chemicals, early in spring, if the supply of stable- 

 manure has been limited. The soil must be rich, to insure 

 good results. 



PROPAGATION 



The propagation of the gooseberry is similar to that of 

 the currant, though it does not root so readily from cut- 

 tings. The wood does not mature as early in the fall as 

 that of the currant, so that planting is oftener delayed 

 until spring, though the cuttings may well be taken in fall, 



