Pruning 289 



the cultivation, the cooler and moister can the soil be 

 kept, and hence the nearer will be the approach to the 

 normal conditions under which the plant thrives. Like 

 the proper selection of soil and location, suitable cultiva- 

 tion will materially aid in preserving the health of the 

 plants and preventing mildew, though by no means a 

 remedy for that disease. Mulching also succeeds well, 

 preserving the soil in a cool and moist condition even 

 better than cultivation. Deep tillage must be carefully 

 avoided. Disturbing the roots is likely to cause imper- 

 fect setting or subsequent dropping of the fruit. Both the 

 groselles and especially the gooseberry, are very sensitive 

 to root conditions. An untimely and improper cultiva- 

 tion may practically destroy the crop. Allowing the soil 

 to go without mulching or tillage is also injurious if the 

 surface becomes dry and hard. 



PKUNING 



Left to itself, the gooseberry soon becomes a tangled 

 thicket, the fruit in consequence being small and difficult 

 to pick. It produces much more wood than ought to re- 

 main for each year's fruiting. This must be reduced, if 

 the best results are to be secured. The particular manner 

 in which it is performed is of far less importance. Berries 

 are produced from all parts of the bush except the present 

 year shoots and the very old wood, but the finest fruits 

 are borne on one-year-old branches. After two or three 

 years in bearing the wood begins to fail, and the fruit 

 borne from it likewise declines. The principle, therefore, 

 should be to carefully guard the vigorous young wood, 



