348 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



flavour. The Gooseberry competitions of Lancashire in particular 

 Lave long been famous, and in Scotland, during the Gooseberry 

 season, Gooseberry or Grozat fairs used to be common in the 

 small county towns, and are so in certain of them to this day. 



Propagation. — Of course there are various ways of propa- 

 gating the Gooseberry — from seeds (a method only adopted when 

 new varieties are the object), from layers, suckers, and cuttings, 

 the latter being by far the most generally adopted, and also the 

 better method for the production of symmetrical and fruitful 

 bushes. The simplicity with which propagation by cuttings is 

 effected renders it unnecessary to dwell at any great length on 

 the minute details of it. There are some points of much im- 

 portance to the future well-doing of the bushes that must be 

 pointedly referred to. Any time after the wood is ripe and leafless, 

 onwards till the buds begin to burst into growth, may be termed 

 the season for putting in the cuttings. Still it is better not to delay 

 after the end of November, for soon after the turn of the year 

 Gooseberries begin to move. Stout, well-matured growths, and 

 as straight as possible, of not less than 1 foot and not more than 

 14 inches long, should be selected. These are generally best got 

 from comparatively young and vigorous bushes. All the buds on 

 the lower half of the cutting should be carefully removed, 

 especially where there are clusters of small buds round the 

 base. If these are not effectually removed they become 

 troublesome in after years as sucker-producers, a growth that 

 should never be allowed. Three or four good buds should be 

 left at the top of the cuttings to form the first growths for a 

 foundation to the bush ; and there should not be any buds left 

 between these and the base of the cutting, for it is most desirable 

 .to have a clean stem of at least 6 or 8 inches above the 

 ground before any growths are allowed, because when the first 

 branches start at just the surface of the soil the bush is sure in 

 after years to get more or less soiled up, and the points from 

 which the first branches start become a nest of sucker growths 

 that are most troublesome and injurious, crowding the 

 centres of the bushes and robbing the primary fruit -bearing 

 portions. The cuttings root freely in any light, moderately rich, 

 loamy soil. An open situation should be chosen in preference to 

 one that is shaded with trees. The cuttings should be firmly fixed 

 in the soil, always bearing in mind the clean stem of at least 



