L920. ' 



Gooseberry Growing 



f)7r» 



when grown by themselves or used as bottom fruit in a mixed 

 plantation. They may be set eloser in the rows, and for weak 

 or upright growing varieties such as Lancashire Lad 5 ft. square 

 is often sufficient. Sunshine and good air circulation are such 

 an important aid in the control of fungoid pests that it is 

 essential to avoid overcrowding, especially in mixed plantations. 

 Generous spacing also permits of a maximum amount of horse 

 cultivation. 



Forms of Bush. — Gooseberries are usually grown either on 

 a 6-8 in. leg or as true bushes on the stool principle. Thei 

 former has the advantage of enabling the land to be properly 

 cleared of twitch, &c, but should only be employed on rich soils 

 where the branches are not liable to die back. 



The latter is more suitable on the lighter lands, where the 

 branches die back, as these can readily be replaced by the strong 

 suckers which the system produces. 



Planting. — Gooseberries may be planted in the autumn, 

 winter, or spring, whenever the land is in good friable condition. 

 If cold wet weather commences unusually early the planting 

 is best deferred until the spring, and the young stock should 

 always be carefully heeled in. Before planting, all broken or 

 straggling roots should be trimmed off and the three to four 

 main shoots cut back about two-thirds to an outside terminal 

 bud. Planting is best done with a spade. The roots should b 1 

 well spread out and the soil put back should be firmly trodden. 



If the bushes are to be grown with a " leg " they should 

 be planted at the same depth at which they were growing in 

 the nursery row; but if for the " stool " form of bush, the 

 lowest branch should start just below the surface of the soil to 

 encourage the production of suckers. 



Manuring. — Gooseberries must be generously treated in tin 1 

 matter of organic manures if good bushes carrying heavy crops 

 are required. They respond remarkably to good farmyard 

 manure. Good shoddy, fish, meat meal, or crushed hoofs may 

 be used. Basic slag on heavy soils, or bone meal and kainit on 

 light soils may be applied when these dressings are not given. 



Unless the land contains a sufficiency of lime it must be kept 

 well supplied with it. One ton per acre of fresh burnt water 

 slaked white lime every two or three years is sufficient. On the 

 stiffer soils an annual dressing of 5 cwt. per acre of ground white 

 lime is suitable, or on the lighter lands two tons of small chalk 

 every two or three years. 



