140 



GOOSEBERHY. 



is tied to a stake ; this, though six or eight feet highj occa- 

 sions scarcely any shade on the border, and it does not 

 occupy much room, nor exclude air; while, at the same 

 time, the stem becomes hung close with berries, and makes 

 a pleasant appearance in that state."- — Edin, Encyc, art. 

 Horticulture. 



Mode of bearing, — The gooseberry produces its fruit not 

 only on the shoots of last summer, and on shoots two or 

 three years old, but also on spurs or snags arising from the 

 elder branches along the sides ; but the former afford the 

 largest fruit. The shoots retained for bearers should, there- 

 fore, be retained at full length, or nearly so." — Ahercromhie, 



Pruning. — " The bushes will require a regular pruning 

 twice in the year." 



Summer pruning. — " Where any bushes are crowded with 

 cross and water shoots of the same year, shading the fruit from 

 the sun, and preventing the access of air, thin the heart of 

 the plant and other tufted parts moderately, pinching olF 

 or cutting out close what spray is removed ; but do not 

 touch the summer shoots in general." Maher saj's, ''It 

 will greatly contribute to the perfection of the fruit, if the 

 very small berries are taken away with a pair of scissors, 

 about the middle or end of May ; and these small berries 

 will be found quite as good for sauce, or gooseberry-cream, 

 as the larger." 



Winter pruning. — "You may proceed to the winter prun- 

 ing any time from November until the end of February, 

 9r until the buds are so swelled that further delay would 

 endanger their being rubbed off in the operation. Cut out 

 the cross-shoots and water-shoots of the preceding summer, 

 and the superfluous among crowded branches. Prune^long 

 ramblers and low stragglers to some well placed lateral or 

 eye ; or, if an under-straggler spring very low, cut it away. 

 Of last year's shoots retain a sufficient quantity of laterals 

 and terminals, in vacant parts, to form successional bearers, 

 and to supply the places of unfruitful and decayed old 

 wood, which, as you proceed, should be removed. Mostly 

 retain a leading shoot at the end of a principal branch, 

 leaving it either naturally terminal, or, where the branch 

 would thus be too extended, pruning to some competent 

 lateral within bounds. The superfluous young laterals on 

 the good main branches, instead of being taken off clean, 

 may be cut into little stubs of one or two eyes ; which will 

 C ,nd out fruit-buds and spurs. Of the supply reserved for 

 Dew hearers, a small number will probably require shorten- 



