42 Purple Broccoli from Slips. 



Art. XIV. On growing large Gooseberries for Exhibition. 

 By Mr. M. Saul. 



Sir, 

 In the year 1827, I sent you an account of the mode then 

 practised in this county, of training gooseberry trees, so as to 

 make them produce large show fruit. (See III. 421.) At that 

 time, it was generally supposed that to obtain fine show goose- 

 berries it was necessary to train the trees; and that, if so treated, 

 in five or six years they would be found to have become strong, 

 and would be sure to produce large fruit. The result of seven 

 years' experience, however, proves that training is quite unneces- 

 sary. Gooseberry bushes are only found to produce fruit suit- 

 able for exhibition when they are four or five years old ; because 

 the fruit after that age decreases in size, though it increases in 

 number. Gooseberries rarely, if ever, produce fruit of a very 

 large size for more than two years together ; and generally only 

 one season. The mode usually now practised here is, to take a 

 gooseberry tree out of the nursery in its second year. The next 

 year (being the first after transplanting) it is not allowed to 

 bear any fruit ; but the year following, that is, in the fourth year 

 of its age, it is in its prime, and will produce its largest and 

 finest fruit. We seldom hear of the same tree producing equally 

 fine fruit for even two years in succession : the Bumper, which 

 produced the largest berry in 1832, weighing SOdwts. 18grs. 

 (IX. 98.), this year (1833) did not produce any berry weighing- 

 above 22 dwts. 5 grs. ; and many other examples might be given. 

 [The weights of the largest gooseberries grown in 1833 will be 

 found (in p. 96.) under the head of Provincial Societies.] There 

 are fewer new gooseberries going out this season than last. 



I am, Sir, yours, &c. 



M. Saul. 

 Sidy ard Street, Lancaster, Dec. 6. 1833. 



Art. XV. On propagating the Purple Broccoli from Slips, and on 

 the Agency of Manure prepared from Sea Weed in improving various 

 Vegetables. By Mr. T. Rutger. 



Sir, 

 On reading Mr. Kendall's article upon the propagation of cab- 

 bages from slips (IX. 226.), I feel inclined to draw the attention 

 of your readers to the growing of purple broccoli in the same way; 

 a practice which was adopted, some years since, in the west of 

 Cornwall, and, for aught I know, may be still continued there. 

 The variety thus treated seemed to be rather peculiar in its 

 habits, and compact and handsome in its growth. The head 



