I004 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



State, irrespective of season, at any time between the beginning 

 of November and the end of March. If the soil is not poor, 

 manure is unnecessary ; in fact, the little bushes are better 

 without it until they commence fruiting. As a rule, the bushes 

 may be planted from 5ft. to 6ft. apart each way in large or small 

 blocks. Another mode of planting is by the side of paths round 

 the kitchen-garden ; in such cases 6ft. to 8ft. ought to be allowed 

 the line or row, thus enabling free access to the quarters occupied 

 by the vegetables. 



Another excellent method of growing Gooseberries is as cordon 

 trees trained to supports by the sides of walks ; or they may be 

 trained against north walls to afford late supplies of fruit. Single, 

 double, or other cordons may spring from one stem, each cordon 

 being ift. from another. Good crops of fine fruit are borne on 

 these closely-pruned cordons ; they are easily protected from 

 birds, and occupy very little space ; and for small gardens or 

 where space is very limited, they are extremely useful, and 

 worthy of greater attention. 



The pruning of the Gooseberry in whatever form the tree is 

 grown is a very simple operation, but frequently it is not correctly 

 done Supposing a tree is bought from the nurseryman, it should 

 have a clean stem, or leg, ift. high at least; from this stem the 

 branches should spread in all directions, and the person pruning 

 ought to aim at having a bush equally proportioned, with branches' 

 and young wood so arranged that light and air can pass all 

 through, with sufficient room between the growth for the hand 

 to pass in to gather the fruit. The leading shoots should be 

 left nearly their full length, and all other side-shoots cut in to 

 about three eyes. If the tree has a " weeping " habit, it is 

 essential that all shoots left to form a tree be cut back to 

 a top, or upright, bud ; if cut to a bud on the lower side of 

 the shoot, they will soon be growing downwards instead of 

 upwards. Of course, in those varieties which naturally have an 

 upright habit, it does not matter much about cutting to any bud 

 in particular. Birds are often fond of devouring the buds, and 

 where they are troublesome it is advisable to leave the pruning 

 until the spring, just as the buds are moving. Cordon trees are 

 pruned in the same way as other fruit-trees grown on that system : 

 the leading shoot is allowed to grow nearly ift. or more annually, 

 and all side-shoots are cut back to about three buds in the autumn 

 or winter. If exhibition fruit is required, there must first be strong 

 healthy, young trees, and all useless shoots judiciously removed 

 while small. In the gardener's words, the trees must be "dis- 

 budded," retaining only just those shoots necessary for the further 

 development of the tree and to form the requisite spurs. Over- 

 crowding or congestion must be avoided, and the fruit carefully 

 thinned, leaving only the berries in the positions where they will 

 get the full benefit of light and air. 



