THE KITCHEN-GAEDEN. 



29 



^OUtillTONS SEEDLIKC. 



The gooseberry is propagated precisely like the currant. Manuring, 



high cultivation, and prun- 

 ing, ■will, in some cases, 

 I prove sufficient to prevent 

 'mildew. This may be as- 

 sisted by the cautions appli- 

 cation of salt, either thinly 

 over the soil, or directly 

 upon the plant ; in the lat- 

 ter case, the solution should 

 be so thin that the saline 

 taste may be just percepti- 

 ble. But shading by a 

 thick coat of salt hay ap- 

 pears to be the most effi- 

 cient remedy. It should 

 be spread in a layer of sev- 

 eral inches, or even a foot in 

 thickness, crowding it down 

 to make room for the 

 branches. This should be 

 done in spring. It has 

 proved quite successful in a multitude of instances, even as far south as 

 Delaware. In inland districts, where sea-weed or salt hay cannot be 

 had, a convenient substitute consists in placing coarse hay or straw 

 beneath the bushes, and then applying a solution of salt with a watering- 

 pot, avoiding direct contact with the bushes, if the solution be strong.* 



The Grapc.-^This delicious fruit is too much neglected. There are 

 fine and hardy varieties as easily cultivated as the currant, and, when 

 once established, will last an age — yielding annually an abundance of 

 the most wholesome, palatable, and marketable fruit. The care required 

 is very trifling, when compared with the rich returns they give. 



The varieties of both native and foreign grapes are very great. The 

 following choice and hardy varieties may be grown as far north as 43° : 

 Catawba. — Bunches medium in size, shouldered ; berries large, pale- 

 red, deeper in the sun, with a thin lilac bloom ; flesh slightly pulpy ; 

 juicy, sweet, aromatic, rich, slightly musky. Does not ripen well as far 

 north as latitude 43°, except in warm exposures. Very productive. 



Isabella. — Bunches rather large, shouldered ; berries round-oval, rather 

 large ; skin thick, dark purple becoming nearly black, bloom blue ; ten- 

 der, with some pulp which lessens as it ripens ; when fully ripe, juicy, 

 sweet, rich, slightly musky. Ripens as far north as forty-three degrees 

 latitude, except in unfavorable seasons. Very vigorous, and profusely 

 productive. Origin, South Carolina. 



Diana. — A seedling from the Catawba, which it resembles, but paler, 

 or a pale grayish-red ; bunches loose, berry round, almost without pulp ; 

 juicy, sweet, rich. It ripens earlier than the Isabella. Origin, Milton, 

 Massachusetts. 



* Thomas. 



