^^rWSnKllJ^l THE PRINCE OF GOOSEBERRIES. 
L) W W IN 1 IN U*. FOR HOME OR MARKET UNEXCELLED. 
The followino- matter is copied £rom N. Y. Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin, 
No 114 January, 1897, written by Prof. S. A. Beach, the authority on Gooseberry culture : 
' "The Downing is generally conceded to be the standard of excellence among goose- 
berries of the American class. It is highly esteemed for home and market use not only 
in this country bub even in some parts of Europe, where it comes into competition witH 
the handsomely colored; large fruit of European varieties. , , ■ ^v, n- 
'•The fruit is medium-sized, having a diameter of about three-fourths of an inch. It 
is roundish-oval, pale green, and covered with a thin white bloom. The skin is thin and 
smooth The pulp soft, juicy, sprightly and sweet, ranks among the best in flavor and 
aualitv, whether compared with native or European varieties. The bush is a strong 
grower and very productive. At this Station it has averaged almost ten pounds of fruit 
per bush for the last four years, and one season the average was almost fifteen pounds per 
bush. It is rarely troubled with mildew. _ . , j- 
"It is superior to the European class of gooseberries in productiveness, hardi- 
ness, ease with which they are grown, quality, delicacy of flavor, thm texture of the 
skin of the fruit, freedom from mildew. ^ ■, . ,^ 
«• Field and Garden Culture.— Gooseberries are especially recommended for culture 
in localities where the season is not long enough to ripen grapes successfully. Under 
ffood culture they succeed well on a variety of soils. In order to have the plants do well, 
the land should be well drained and at least fertile enough to grow a first-class crop of 
corn, till they come into bearing, after which they should be liberally fertilized, 
" As a commercial crop gooseberries are often grown as a secondary crop in well culti- 
vated orchards, especially when the orchards are young. Sometimes gooseberries are set 
between vineyard trellises, alternating with the vines. , , , v. * 
" Distance Apart.— When gooseberries are set in vineyards the trellises should be at 
least ten feet apart, thus leaving the gooseberries five feet from the trellis when they are 
planted midway between the vineyard rows. The gooseberry plants should then stand 
five feet apart in the row, although some advocate closer setting. In orchards they should 
not be set nearer the trees than six feet. In the open field, if they are set so that the cul- 
tivator may run both ways, the gooseberries should stand at least five feet apart. If the 
cultivator is to be run but one way the rows should be six feet apart, and the plants four 
feet apart in the row. , . j 4. t ?u 
" Planting.— In preparing the plants for setting out, broken or bruised parts or tlie 
roots should be removed with a clean cut, because the smooth surface will heal more 
readily than will the rough, bruised surfaces. The tops should be shortened to corre- 
spond with the amount of roots. . . ^, ~ , , 
" Pruning.— Gooseberries generally require but little pruning during the first two or 
three years after they are planted, except to clip a few inches off from the strong new 
shoots, and a less amount from less vigorous ones. This may be done at any time after the 
leaves fall. Besides heading in the bushes in the way just described, the pruning consists 
in removing weak or broken branches and those which have made an excessively vigorous 
growth. Old canes that have passed the age of greatest productiveness, and branches 
that are close to the ground, should also be taken away. ... ^- ^ 
" Cultivation.— In the spring, as soon as the ground is fit to work, it is our practice to 
fork lightly into the soil the manure which was placed around the plants the fall previous. 
Shallow cultivation is given near the bushes and somewhat deeper, perhaps three or four 
inches deep, midway between the rows. It is not well to disturb the roots by deep culti- 
vation Frequent shallow cultivation is given until about the middle of August, when it 
is discontinued, so that the growth may be checked and the wood become well ripened 
before winter. . .., . , ^ 11, 
" Fertilizing.— The soil must be kept very fertile in order to secure annual heavj 
crops of fruit and still keep the plants in vigorous condition. At this Station gooseberries 
are grown on a rather heavy clay loam, and stable manure is used for fertilizing them, but 
not only on account of the plant food which it furnishes, but also because of its beneficial 
effect in loosening the soil. One or two forkfuls of manure are given to each plant in 
the fall and turned under by shallow cultivation in the spring." 
INJURIOUS INSECTS. 
Currant Worm.— Before fruit has attained much size, use London Purple or Parifl Greea; later use pow- 
dered hellebore. . ^ ^ . • ^.v. ,1 
Currant Borer.— Prune and bum Infested canes in the fall. 
DISEASES. 
Leaf Spot.— Spray once with Bordeaux mixture before the fruit begins to grow, and after fruit has 
*'**Miuiew will not bother Downing. Best remedy though, is to spray to prevent it as soon as buds begin to 
unfold, using one ounce potassium sulphide for every two gallons water. Repeat the apphcations every 
ten days till the fruit is nearly ready to market. 
MARKETING THE GREEN FRUIT AND PROFIT IN GROWING. 
The gooseberry holds a unique position amoug- cultivated Iruits, because its fruit may be marketea 
cither green or ripe. Last season gooseberries brought in the New York market 0 to 10 cents per quart, 
and as an acre will yield about 5000 quarts, it is readily seen that Gooseberries have a market value that fen 
farmers and fruit growers appreciate. pj^o^UCTIVENESS. 
Mr W D. Barnes writes that "from 800 Downing Plants.set between vineyard rows in the spring of 1892, 
he gathered 2,362 quarts in 189li. This he considers a lull crop. Were the plants set 5 x 5 feet, a" acre wouW 
contain 1,7« plants, and at the rate of yield which was realized Irom these plants would produce i>Mm'^^- 
or a little' more than two and a half tons per acre." , , ^ . 4 j.u 1 .,nnoo „or 
Mr E. D. Lewis reports : " From an acre of stooled plants averaging about three bearing canes per 
