226 



THE GAKDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



are the best. If the cuttings are taken off 

 close to the branch from which they spring, 

 so much the better. 



It may be observed that roots are emitted 

 from any part of the cutting below ground; 

 therefore it may be presumed that the deeper 

 it is inserted the more roots will be produced. 

 This is true to some extent: nevertheless it is 

 found that roots produced along a great length 

 of shoot, like fibres from a tap-root, are not so 

 vigorous and effective as those which proceed 

 from points nearer the leaves; at least this is 

 the case with the Gooseberry, which is not \ 

 naturally a deep-rooted plant. 



Layering is a sure mode, and may be re- 

 sorted to when plants of any particular sort 

 are required to be speedily obtained, without 

 risk of failure, though the plants are not so 

 shapely as those raised from cuttings; but the 

 most rapid mode of obtaining well -rooted 

 plants is by that which has been termed layer- 

 ing by insertion of the growing point. In 

 moist seasons, it may have been observed that 

 occasionally the pendulous shoots in summer 

 root at the extremities when these come in 

 contact with the soil. If towards the end of 

 June the tips of the shoots of any variety are 

 inserted to the depth of an inch in soil that 

 has been recently dug and made fine, they 

 will form a large quantity of roots before 

 autumn, together with a bud for a shoot. In 

 autumn these plants will be so well-rooted that 

 they may be taken up, and either planted 

 where they are to remain, or put in nursery 

 rows till next autumn; but, in doing so, care 

 must be taken not to break the bud formed at 

 the crown of the roots. 



Propagation by suckers is generally con- 

 sidered objectionable, as the plants so obtained 

 are apt to produce suckers. In a well-managed 

 plantation there should be no suckers to propa- 

 gate from; but in the case of scarce sorts, it 

 may be advisable to encourage them for the 

 sake of increase. They should be planted in 

 autumn, and transplanted a year afterwards, 

 when the roots ought to be examined, and 

 every bud carefully removed. By a little care 

 good plants with clean stems may be formed; 

 and if the shoots and leaves are kept healthy 

 and vigorous, the disposition to produce suckers 

 will be easily overcome. 



When Gooseberries are intended to be grown 

 in bush form it is important that the cuttings 

 should be properly prepared and of the best 

 kind to produce clean, healthy bushes, each 

 with straight clean stems about a foot high. 



Bushes on stems can be easily kept free of 

 weeds and manured; the fruit is also out of 

 the reach of splashes of soil during heavy rain, 

 and can be easily gathered. 



The last week in October is the most favour- 

 able time, and the best cuttings are those taken 

 from short-jointed ripe growths of the current 

 year. All the buds, except five at the top of 

 the shoot, should be carefully cut out to pre- 

 vent the growth of suckers. They should then 

 be planted 4 inches deep and apart, in rows 

 18 inches apart, in sandy soil for preference, 

 treading the soil firmly about them as the 

 planting proceeds. 



Market growers, whose crops of Gooseberries 

 are gathered and marketed green, do not trouble 

 about keeping the plants to a clear stem, but 

 allow suckers to come up thickly from the base, 

 and without scarcely any pruning; but such 

 bushes produce fruit of very inferior quality. 



Insects, &c. — See chapter on this subject. 

 Fruit and Seed Enemies. — Birds, Wasps. Leaf 

 E ne iiiies. — Gooseberry and Currant Saw-fly, 

 Green-fly, Magpie Moth, V-Moth. Root Enemies. 

 — Red-legged Garden Weevil. 



Adams' Snoiv-ball. — Branches pendulous. Fruit white, 

 middle-sized or rather large, roundish, slightly hairy, 

 rich, and sweet. Middling early. 



Allen's Glory of liatcliff. — Branches spreading, some- 

 what pendulous. Fruit middle-sized, oblong, quite smooth, 

 light-green, thick-skinned, very good, and sweet. Mid- 

 dling early; a moderate bearer. 



Antagonist. — Fruit very large, long, hairy, creamy- 

 white, of good flavour. The largest white exhibition 

 Gooseberry. An excellent bearer. 



Beaumont's Smiling Beauty. — Branches somewhat 

 pendulous. Fruit large, oblong, quite smooth, yellowish - 

 white, thin-skinned, somewhat transparent, sweet and 

 good. Early, and an abundant bearer. 



Berry's Farmer's Glory. — Branches somewhat pendu- 

 lous. Leaves slightly pubescent above. Fruit very large, 

 obovate, downy, red intermixed with green, thick-skinned, 

 well flavoured. Middling early; an abundant bearer. 



Bratherton's Lord of the Manor. — Branches spreading. 

 Fruit very large, roundish, hairy, red, rather thick- 

 skinned, very good. Late, and a good bearer. 



Broom Girl. — Branches erect. Fruit very large, 

 roundish, hairy, yellowish - olive, thin-skinned, and of 

 first-rate flavour. Early, and an abundant bearer. 



Careless. — Fruit very large, long, smooth, creamy-white, 

 very handsome, and of good flavour. An abundant 

 bearer. 



Catkcrina. — Fruit very large, obovate, slightly hairy, 

 bright -yellow, of excellent flavour. 



Cheshire Lady. — Branches erect. Leaves pubescent. 

 Fruit middle-sized, oblong, hair}', deep-red, rich and 

 excellent, with a clear pulp. Bather late. 



Cleworth's White Lion. — Branches somewhat pendulous. 

 Fruit large, obovate, slightly hairy, white, thin-skinned, 

 rich, and excellent. Very late. 



Cobham Seedling (fig. 1023).— A variety with exceed- 

 ingly large fruit, oval, slightly hairy, greenish-yellow in 



