88 FRUIT FARMING 



CHAPTER XL 



BUSH OR SOFT TRUITS. 



Having dealt with trees we now reach these very 

 important fruits, at once the cheapest to buy, the 

 quickest to repay for labour, and the easiest to manage. 

 We must first take 



Gooseberries. — An all important crop. It is a good 

 policy not to have all one's eggs in one basket, and 

 with this fi-uit we have two possible markets. They 

 can be gathered green, and in many respects this is 

 the best; as the trees benefit and strengthen for the 

 next crop, and no trouble is caused in keeping them 

 from birds, and picking is over before Currants are 

 coloured. On the other hand, if Cherries are a failure, 

 ripe Gooseberries sell well, the best (for ripe firuit) 

 being the Yellow Rough, Lancashire Lad, and 

 Warrington. These " ripe " berries must be marketed 

 when only slightly coloured, or they will not travel 

 without smashing. 



Gooseberry Mildew. — This so called American pest 

 has appeared now all over Britain, in spite of the 

 action of the Board of Trade. It must have a serious 

 effect on the planting of Gooseberries. The growers 

 of plants cannot possibly guarantee freedom, as the 

 spores travel a long distance, and new plantations 

 may become affected, even where the bushes were 

 free when sent out. The disease is worse in such cold 

 wet seasons as 1909-10, and a cycle of warm years 

 may possibly stamp it out. 



