1920.] 



Gooseberry Grow inc. 



578 



such as Gunner, Leader, Leveller, &c., which receive 

 very special culture to produce the finest dessert fruit 

 in the East Grinstead and Worthing districts in 

 Sussex. In marketing these the 4 lb. chip in 

 generally used, but Early Sulphurs from Kent are 

 often sent in Peach Boxes holding 10 lb., while 

 Leveller is carefully graded and the first grade 

 packed in shallow boxes. 



Propagation. — This is effected by means of either layers 

 or cuttings, the latter being the better method and more 

 commonly used. 



Layering consists in bending down strong healthy shoots and 

 covering with earth to a depth of 8 or 9 in., leaving 6 or 8 in. 

 of their tips free. This should be done about the end of June. 

 In autumn these branches should be cut from the bush ami 

 lifted and* where a large root system has been formed, it may 

 be divided into two and both the upper and lower portions of the 

 stem used to form young plants. Although the buds on the 

 lower portion will when it is planted out be upside down, this 

 will not materially affect the young shoots, which behave quite 

 normally. 



Cuttings may be taken in the autumn from healthy, well 

 developed ripe wood of the same season's growth as soon as 

 growth has ceased and the leaves have fallen. Weak or rank 

 material should be avoided, as it does not produce good stock. 

 The thickest wood only should be used and this should be cut 

 from 8-10 in. long and, if possible, with a heel or small piece 

 of the preceding year's growth, on account of the large number 

 of dormant buds at the base which readily break, whereby roots 

 are rapidly formed. Cuttings should be planted about 6 inches 

 apart in rows 30 inches apart with as little delay as possible, to 

 avoid any drying out. If, however, the ground is not ready, 

 or the weather is unfavourable, the planting should be postponed 

 until early spring, the cuttings in the meantime being carefully 

 bedded in a sheltered position or stored in moist sand or moss 

 in some suitable shed or building. It is most important that the 

 cutting bed be of a light friable well drained soil, somewhat 

 " sharp " and " in good heart," or poor root systems with corre- 

 spondingly poor growth will be obtained. Tin 1 usual method el' 

 planting is to take out with spade or plough a furrow with one 



