THE GOOSEBERRY. 



137 



Tendency toward mildew in any plant is a sign of 

 weakness, and while it is well to seek for a cure it 

 is vastly better to seek for a prevention. In the 

 case of the gooseberry the prevention is to be sought 

 in better culture and in the choice of mildew-proof 

 varieties. Some kinds of gooseberries are better adapted 

 than others to 

 withstand heat, 

 and these are the 

 ones which are 

 likely to be most 

 healthy in our 

 climate; and, be- 

 ing most healthy, 

 they will be most 

 nearly mildew- 

 proof. 



One foreign va- 



riety, the Indus- PEARL 



try, seems likely 



to adapt itself to American conditions, if well treated, 



but I think our true plan is to develop the best traits 



of native American sorts, and to thus seek a perfect 



gooseberry. Considerable progress in this direction 



has already been made. 



The preparation of the soil for gooseberries is prac- 

 tically the same as for currants, deep mellow loam 

 being preferable. The roots are shallow feeders, yet 

 a deep soil is the best known antidote for drought. 

 Gooseberries, especially, are injured by drought, if 

 the bushes are in shallow soil. 



Liberal applications of barnyard manure should be 

 given the gooseberry patch both before the young 



