294 Bush-Fruits 



cranberries, and can be grown anywhere, this method of 

 using them is worth remembering. We too often look 

 to the market for the products of distant points and fail 

 to fully utilize those from our own gardens. 



A method of keeping green gooseberries which seems 

 to have been in vogue before the process of canning was 

 known, consists in filling a jug or bottle with sound fruit, 

 taking care that no bruised or crushed ones go in, then 

 filling with cold spring or well water, corking tightly and 

 putting away in a cool cellar. Hoskins states that they 

 can be so preserved perfectly the year round, without 

 sealing, though it is generally recommended to seal them. 

 This method is certainly simple and, if as satisfactory as it 

 is said to be, makes fresh gooseberry pie available at all 

 seasons of the year. Another method of keeping, recom- 

 mended by the "Prairie Farmer/' is to put them into 

 bottles when perfectly dry, then cork the bottles tight, 

 cover the corks with sealing wax, and partially cover the 

 bottles with sand or earth in the cellar. 



DURATION OF PLANTATIONS 



In the older method of pruning to tree form, the plants 

 began to fail after six or eight years, and soon became un- 

 profitable, generally bearing their best fruit about the 

 fourth or fifth year from planting. In bush training, they 

 remain in vigorous condition much longer.- Plantations 

 twenty or twenty-five years old, and still profitable, are 

 not uncommon. Much depends on the thoroughness 

 with which the renewing process is carried on. Liberal 

 fertilizing and good culture will also aid greatly. Gener- 



