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MANUAL OF GARDENING 



A large part of the gooseberry crop is picked green for culinary pur- 

 poses. Several of the English varieties and their derivatives have 

 proved of value, having larger fruits than the natives (Fig. 277) . 



Varieties of gooseberries. 



For ordinary use the Downing can generally be recommended. It is 

 hardy, productive, of fair size, and greenish white in color. Houghton 

 is even more hardy and productive, but the fruit is rather small and 

 of a dark red color. Among the varieties of European origin that can 

 be successfully grown, if the mildew can be prevented, are Industry, 

 Triumph, Keepsake, Lancashire Lad, and Golden Prohfic. Among 

 other varieties that are promising are Champion, Columbus, Chau- 

 tauqua, and Josselyn (Red Jacket). 



Grape. — One of the surest of fruit crops is the grape, a crop each 

 year being reasonably certain after the third year from the time of 

 setting the vines; and the good amateur kinds are numerous. 



The grape does well on any soil that is under good cultivation and 

 well drained. A soil with considerable clay is better under these cir- 

 cumstances than a light, sandy loam. The exposure should be to the 

 sun ; and the place should admit of cultivation on all sides. 



For planting, 1- or 2-year-old vines should be used, being set 

 either in the fall or early spring. At planting, the vine is cut back to 

 3 or 4 eyes, and the roots are well shortened in. The hole in which the 

 plant is to be set should be large enough to allow a full spreading of the 

 roots. If the season should be dry, a mulch of coarse litter may be 

 spread around the vine. If all the buds start, the strongest one or 

 two may be allowed to grow. The canes arising from these buds should 

 be staked and allowed to grow through the season ; or in large planta- 

 tions the first-year canes may be allowed to lie on the ground. 



The second year one cane should be cut back to the same number of 

 eyes as the first year. After growth begins in the spring, two of the 

 strongest buds should be allowed to remain. These two canes now 

 arising may be grown to a single stake through the second summer, or 

 they may be spread horizontally on a trellis. These are the canes 

 that form the permanent arms or parts of the vine. From them start 

 the upright shoots which, in succeeding years, are to bear the fruits. 



