THE GOOSEBERRY. 375 



Propagation and Culture. The Gooseberry is propagated 

 from cuttings, in a manner quite similar to the currant. 

 The soil should be a good strong loam, and made unusually 

 deep by trenching, to secure the bushes from drought. It 

 should be kept fertile by application of manure. The prun- 

 ing should be freely performed as soon as the leaves are off, 

 by a thorough thinning out of the branches. The shoots 

 should be left, evenly distributed over the bush, so as to pre- 

 vent crowding of the leaves, for it must be remembered 

 that with this as well as with all other plants or trees, the 

 growth and ripening of the fruit depends wholly on the ad- 

 mission of light and air to the leaves, and on their full and 

 healthy development. 



Mildew. This is the most serious obstacle to the success- 

 ful cultivation of the gooseberry in the United States. In the 

 cool and moist climate of England, it docs not exist ; in the 

 extreme northern parts of the Union, it is not formidable ; 

 but on approaching the Middle States, although the bushes 

 grow vigorously and set abundant crops of young fruit, the 

 latter become covered with a thick brown or grey mildew 

 or scurf, which wholly destroys their value. 



Manuring, high cultivation, and pruning, will in some 

 cases prove sufficient to prevent mildew. This may be as- 

 sisted by the cautious application of salt, — either thinly 

 over the soil, or directly upon the plant ; in the .atter case, 

 the solution should be so thin, that the saline taste may be 

 iust perceptible. But shading by a thick coat of salt hay, 

 appears to be the most efficient remedy. It should be spread 

 in a layer of several 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. 



