296 Bush-Fruits 



four by six feet apart. One-half bushel to a plant, set at 

 this distance, has been reported from Canada. This is 

 exceptional, and should not be considered as a basis for 

 estimates. At the Geneva, New York, Experiment Sta- 

 tion, in 1891, 1 plants gave an average of over ten pounds 

 of fruit each, or about eight quarts. This would make 

 about 450 bushels to the acre with plants set four by six 

 feet apart. Fuller 2 says that from 200 to 400 bushels 

 to the acre of native sorts can be grown. The average 

 yield for the United States as a whole, as deduced from the 

 figures for acreage and total production given in the 1910 

 census, is only 35 bushels to the acre. The reader may 

 make his own contrasts and draw his own conclusions. 



PROFITS 



When the market is at hand the gooseberry is one of 

 the most reliable and generally one of the most profitable 

 small-fruits grown. The price a quart is not high, but the 

 yield is large and the loss little. The average price in the 

 New York market seems to be about $2 a bushel, though 

 fine fruit sometimes reaches double that price. 



Of all small-fruits the gooseberry is the one best adapted 

 to long-distance shipments. If a large city market can 

 be reached without too great cost it may pay well to do it. 

 In some localities the home market is doubtless worth 

 cultivating. Attempting to educate the public is gener- 

 ally a thankless task, but if persons could be taught to 

 use the ripe fruit as well as the green, the consumption 

 of the gooseberry would be greatly increased. 



1 Annual Kept. 1891: 474. 



2 Small Fruit Culturist, p. 222. 



