ioo6 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



Gooseberries are easily increased by cuttings or layers, the 

 former being much the more expeditious method, as a large 

 number of cuttings may be propagated from one bush. Cuttings 

 may be made from pieces of young wood immediately after 

 the foliage has fallen, and each cutting should be from ift. 

 to i^ft. in length. Some people leave an inch or so of the 

 previous year's wood at the base of the cutting, but experience 

 has proved that they root equally well with or without a 

 heel of older wood. Having cut the shoot or cutting to the 

 proper length, all the lower buds, or eyes, should be carefully 

 cut out, leaving only three or four eyes at the apex. This will 

 later on furnish a tree, or bush, with a clean leg, and also prevent 

 young shoots from springing up through the soil. As already 

 stated in connection with Red and White Currants, these 

 shoots from the base or soil are undesirable, for if such growth 

 were permitted, all the fruit produced thereon would be covered 

 with soil and filth after a heavy storm ; and for that reason 

 alone it is best to effectually stop the formation of these lower 

 growths by cutting away all the lower buds when making the 

 cutting. When the cuttings have been prepared, they should be 

 inserted in soil and treated as already advised for Currants. 



Apart from the Gooseberry Moth, Gooseberry and Currant 

 Sawfly, and the Spinach Moth, which attack both Currants and 

 Gooseberries, the latter has as a visitor one of the "infinitely 

 small." This is the Gooseberry Mite {Bryobia prefiosa), commonly 

 mistaken for Red Spider. It appears in vast numbers on leaves 

 and stems in the spring, and causes them to assume an unhealthy 

 appearance, and frequently to fall prematurely. The mites multiply 

 very rapidly, hot, dry seasons being favourable to their increase. 

 Kerosene emulsion should be employed, taking care that foliage 

 and bark (more especially in old trees) are thoroughly reached. 

 Carbolic soft soap in solution (loz. to a gallon of water) will 

 prove effectual if persisted in, using it hot, say i2odeg. to 

 i4odeg., and on a bright day, but before the sun gets too 

 powerful to burn the foliage. 



A species of Mildew {MicrosphcBra grossula7'icB) asserts itself 

 upon the foliage and does some damage. This may be stayed 

 by dusting powdered sulphur over the leaves or else by spraying 

 with potassium sulphide. 



Grapes. 



In the Open. — Really delicious Grapes may be grown outside it 

 the vines are planted against south walls that are sheltered from 

 cold, cutting winds, and if a little care is taken in regulating 

 the growth during the summer. Only a few varieties, however, 

 are worth planting, and the following have proved the most 

 reliable : Moore's Early, a small but delicious black sort, setting 

 its fruit freely, and' one of the first to ripen, is strongly 



