88 
Hints on Vegetable and Fruit Farming. 
supply of young wood is left in the bush, which should be 
shaped like a cup. The branches should be trained to droop 
somewhat. If cut in this way they do not feel the effects of 
spring frosts so much as if they were left to grow quite upright. 
The choice of the sorts of gooseberries must in a degree depend 
upon the locality, but in most places those named below may 
safely be planted. For example, the Whitesmith is a capital 
gooseberry for picking green, and comes early, but is not so 
good for sale when ripe, as consumers like red fruit best, 
which always has a better flavour. The Early Sulphur is also 
good for picking green. When ripe it is yellow, and of second- 
rate quality. The Crown Bob is a famous sort, with a large 
red fruit, and answers for picking green or ripe. Probably 
the best of all is the Warrington for picking green or for 
picking ripe for preserving. It is an early sort for picking 
green, yet is about one of the last to come to full ripeness. A 
good proportion of a farm plantation should be planted with this. 
The Lancashire Lad is a useful sort for farms, as also are the 
Red Rifleman, Golden Drop and Monarch. There are other 
sorts raised in Lancashire, the great centre of prize gooseberries, 
concerning which fables are narrated. Of these the best are the 
Roaring Lion, Leveller, Leader, Napoleon, and Careless. These 
may be cultivated with good results in the gardens attached to 
farms, and should be sent for sale in small quantities, being 
showy fruit, and should be packed in neat baskets and tastefully 
set off. The garden may also be turned to good account in the 
production of earlv gooseberries in sheltered spots, for sending 
to market green for puddings and t-arts, for which sometimes as 
much as 8f/. or 9fZ. per lb. is given. The ground is dug with a 
three-pronged spud in the winter, and is manured with rags or 
shoddy, or refuse substances. It is hoed in the summer once, 
or twice if necessary. Direct! v the berries are large enough the 
bushes are picked over, and the largest are sent to market, when 
they make from 3rf. to ?>\d. per lb., or even more at the 
beginning of the season ; but the price soon falls to 2d. and \\d. 
per lb., and even to \\d. per lb. An average crop from goose- 
berry-bushes in full vigour would be between 6500 and 7500 lbs. 
per acre, and the price between 1^^/. and 2d. per lb. Occasionally, 
when the soil is well suited for these bushes, very large profits 
and very quick returns are made. The expense would depend 
upon the amount of the crop, in respect of picking, carriage, and 
salesmen's charges. The expenses in connection with the culti- 
vation alone would range from 10/. to 12/. per acre, and all other 
charges in the case of an average crop would amount to 11. or 8/. 
per acre. There is a very great demand for this fruit for 
bottling and preserving, as well as for eating. Gooseberry- 
