THE GOOSEBERRY. 



are allowed to a branch when the object is prize fruit ; we have, indeed, seen 

 not more than two berries to an entire bush, the shoot being pegged down 

 to within a few inches of the ground, and a saucer of water placed under 

 each berry, in order, by its evaporation, to keep its surface moist and 

 promote its swelling. The berries intended for prizes are protected from 

 heavy rains by a cap of oiled paper, or by a bell-glass, or any other suit- 

 able contrivance ; because should a slight shower fall on them at the time 

 they are ripening, the}' are very apt to burst. These caps, however, 

 must not be put on except when rain is expected, in order not to deprive 

 the leaves of sun and air. Prize gooseberry bushes are thought to be at their 

 best when five or six years old from seed, and four or five years from cuttings. 



1222. Gathering and keeping. — Unripe goosebenies for tarts are in a fit 

 state for that purpose by the end of April, and they may be thinned out 

 from those that are to remain for ripening till the middle of July. If two- 

 thirds of the produce of every plant is thinned out in a green state, it will 

 add considerably to the size of those which remain. Ripe gooseberries 

 should be gathered the day in which they are sent to table, but both these 

 and unripe fruit may, when necessary, be kept a week or more, by being 

 placed in the icehouse-room, or in the fruit-cellar. Gooseberries may be 

 preserved on the trees, either by matting-up each bush separately ; by cover- 

 ing with canvas, or matting both sides of an espalier or gooseberry-hedge ; or 

 by inclosing a square of bushes by pales or canvas frames six feet high ; con- 

 structing the framework of a roof over this space, and covering it with can- 

 vas. This will exclude bu'ds and insects, and also, in a great measure, light, 

 by which the decay of the fruit will be retarded for several weeks ; more 

 especially if the covering has been put on a few days before the fruit is 

 thoroughly ripe. 



1223. Insects^ diseases, and casualties. — No pest is more common in gar- 

 dens than the gooseberry caterpillar, by which is meant the larva of several 

 kinds of moths, saw-flies, and some butterflies. They are all hatched on 

 the leaves, and the great art of preventing them from injuring the plants is 

 to watch for the appearance of the eggs, and as soon as any are seen commence 

 syringing the plants powerfully with lime-water, using an inverted rose on 

 the syringe, so as to throw the water against the under-sides of the leaves, 

 as it is there that the eggs are deposited. Wq feel confident that lime- 

 water, when properly prepared (202) and applied, will destroy, at all events 

 in its young state, the larva of every insect that lives on the leaves of plants ; 

 but to those who find it insufficient, we would recommend, first, to moisten 

 the leaves by the syringe or watering-pot, and then to dust them, either with 

 powdered quick-lime, coarse tobacco powder, or the powder of white helle- 

 bore (Veratrum album) ; or if either of the two last plants be used, the 

 powder may be mixed with soapsuds, and the plants watered or syringed 

 with it ; but in this case the skin of the fruit will not escape, being covered 

 with the liquor. Lime-water, therefore, is in our opinion the only unex- 

 ceptionable application. Unfortunately in many gardens the caterpillars are 

 not observed until they have attained a considerable size, and done great 

 part of the mischief, when they are also more difficult to destroy. Hand 

 picking is recommended in such cases, but the mischief being already done, 

 this only prevents the insect from attaining maturity, which, no doubt, 

 is an advantage, by lessening the number of females for producing future 

 broods. See the section on insects, p. 99. 



