300 TREATMENT OF THE 



I always thin off the berries from every tree, 

 and thus the fruit which remains is improved 

 in size; and the object of a supply of green 

 Gooseberries is obtained, whilst a proper 

 reserve is left for ripening. If it be desired 

 to have very large fruit it may be obtained 

 by a judicious thinning, shading of the fruit 

 from hot sun, and when the fruit approaches 

 maturity from rain; also by watering the 

 roots with manure water. The water which 

 I use is, three quarts of drainings from a 

 dunghill to one quart drained from fowls' 

 or pigeons' dung soaked for the purpose, 

 which must be applied so as to keep the soil 

 in a moist condition. Let manure water 

 be used twice and pure water once in regu- 

 lar succession. 



The winter pruning must be performed as 

 early in the season as possible. A proper 

 distribution of shoots must be left through- 

 out the tree, so that the bearing shoots be 

 six inches apart. In shortening the shoots 

 of a good healthy tree, cut them to twelve 

 buds, and reserve one lateral shoot as near 

 to the origin of each main branch or shoot 

 as possible. Cut clean away all shoots 

 or branches not wanted, and let all suckers 

 be pulled or grubbed up. As soon as the 

 trees are pruned let the mixture for the des- 

 truction of insects be applied. - (See Cater- 

 pillar.) 



When winter has set in, let a quantity 



