SMALL FRUITS 453 



Culture and Fertilization. — Clean culture so as to protect the plants 

 from weed competition and for the purpose of conserving moisture should 

 be the aim. Strong, vigorous plants are more profitable and are better 

 able to resist the attacks of enemies and diseases. Stable manure, bone 

 meal or other high grade fertilizers should be used to maintain the plants in 

 a high state of growth and vigor. 



Enemies and Diseases. — If the plants become infested with the currant 

 worm, as the red sorts are almost certain to be, the plants should be thor- 

 oughly sprayed with a solution of Paris green, 5 ounces to 30 gallons of 

 water, or dusted with white hellebore. If mildew is troublesome, Bordeaux 

 mixture should be used. As a rule, however, currants are not as seriously 

 affected by mildew as are the gooseberries. 



Harvesting the Fruit. — Currants should be carefully picked so as to 

 maintain the little grape-like clusters of fruit intact. Berries torn or 

 stripped from the stems do not keep or ship as well as those carefully 

 handled. The most popular receptacle for shipping currants is the quart 

 strawberry box, but carefully picked currants will carry well in 4 or 10- 

 pound climax baskets with scale board covers. 



GOOSEBERRY 



The gooseberry of Europe was early brought to this country by the 

 colonists, but, like the grapes which they brought, it was not suited to the 

 new conditions. An acceptable substitute was found in the wild gooseberry 

 of the realm, and from these wild plants, or their seedlings, have developed 

 the most valuable of the sorts adapted to eastern United States. The 

 European sorts have proven better suited to the extreme northwest condi- 

 tions in the United States and are there cultivated to a limited extent. 

 In general, however, the basis of the commercial gooseberry industry is 

 the American varieties. 



The cultural range of the gooseberry coincides in general with that of 

 the currant, but it is able to withstand a slightly higher temperature than 

 the currant and its southern limit of cultivation extends somewhat farther 

 than that of the currant. 



Soil. — The gooseberry thrives well on a considerable diversity of soils, 

 but rich, moist, well-drained loams or clays offer the most congenial condi- 

 tions for the plant. Under a favorable environment the plants should 

 continue in good condition long enough to produce seven to ten crops of 

 fruit, after which the plants will be well spent. 



Preparation of Land. — The area to be planted in gooseberries should 

 receive at least one season of preparatory treatment if practicable, before 

 the plants are set. This should consist of a crop which is well tilled and 

 kept free of weeds, or one which, by reason of its density and rank growth, 

 will smother the weeds. 



Plants for Setting. — While the gooseberry can be propagated with a 

 fair degree of success from cuttings as well as by layering and mounding, 



