£6 



TO PROPAGATE THE GOOSEBERRY AND CURRANT. 



taken up in November, half a bushel of tubers. The sets were planted three feet 

 apart, and the stems were so luxuriant that they covered a space of at least six 

 feet in circumference. Those that had their shoots shortened occasionally were 

 the most prolific in tubers, and which were formed near the surface around the 

 stems, indicating that they require earthing up like potatoes. It is probable 

 after the shoots are cut, and begin vigorously to shoot again, that by earthing 

 over some of these the crop may be augmented. The best method of cooking 

 them has probably yet to be discovered by experience ; but when simply boiled 

 in water they are of a soft pulpy substance, and in taste resembling sea kale 

 mixed with the hot taste of garden cress. It appears from Loudon's Gardener's 

 Magazine for last month, that this plant has also been grown as a vegetable last 

 season, in the Experimental Garden of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural 

 Society, Edinburgh, some tubers having been exhibited at a meeting of the 

 Society on the 7th of December last. The tubers were cooked while the council 

 were sitting, and found to be " equal in flavour to the best asparagus." The 

 tubers when taken up may be stored for winter use along with the potatoes. 



Tropseolum tuberosum is also worthy of being cultivated in the flower gar- 

 den as an ornamental climber for covering trellis work, where, if planted in a 

 warm south aspect, it would cover a large space, and produce an abundance of 

 flowers. 



TO PROPAGATE THE GOOSEBERRY AND CURRANT BY 



CUTTINGS, 



SO AS TO PREVENT SUCKERS BEING SENT UP FROM THE ROOTS. 

 BY A PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



No plants are of easier propagation by cuttings than the gooseberry and • 

 currant, which should be taken from the young wood at the winter pruning. 



The usual method is to take the lower part of the strongest shoots, about 

 fifteen inches in length, cutting out all the eyes except three or four at the top, 

 which are left to form the head of the future bush. The eyes are cut out to 

 prevent them from sending up suckers from the root or stem ; and every grower 

 of these fruits knows how injurious they are to the health of the bushes, as well 

 as troublesome to remove effectually, particularly when they come up from a 

 deep part of the stem ; and it too frequently happens that the place from 

 whence one has been removed is succeeded by several the ensuing summer. 



To prevent the possibility of the bushes sending up suckers, the cuttings 

 should have every eye (except three or four at the top) cut clean out of the solid 

 wood. This is readily done with a sharp knife, which should be inserted about 

 half an inch below each eye, cutting gradually deeper until under the eye, and 

 bringing the knife out at the same distance above, as it had been inserted below. 

 The operation is similar to taking off buds in the summer for working fruit trees. 



