Caliivatioh. of the Gooseberry. 177 
" July 12. The Gooseberries this year, are better than I have 
seen them for several years past. The shrubs as well as the fruit 
are less coated with a fungus which spoils the berries." It ap- 
pears, therefore, that a wet season is peculiarly suited to the 
Gooseberry. That the season of 1837 was remarkable for its wet- 
ness, will appear from the following table kept at Albany, N. Y. 
(See Report of Regents for 1838.) 
Rain. 
1837, April, - - - 1 inch 63 hundredths. 
May, ... 7 inches 34 " 
June, - . - 5 " 06 
July, - - - 4 " 38 
It is satisfactory to find that a wet season, which is injurious to 
many fruits, causing them to decay rapidly, is congenial to the 
Gooseberry. The season of 1846, as to amount of rain, has re- 
sembled that of 1837, and has suited this fruit. With this know- 
ledge, we may hope to commence a new era in the cultivation of 
the Gooseberry, which may be highly useful in some sections. 
I would here briefly state, that the secret and success in culti- 
vating the Gooseberry in this place, free of scab, and securing a 
full crop, is to grozv them in grassy places, or grass borders suffi- 
ciently ivide, and alloio the grass to grow rather luxuriantly among 
them, until they have attained their growth, and are thereby se- 
cured from the forming scab. When the berries begin to ripen, 
the grass should be cut, being no longer required. 1 saw, many 
years ago, in Vermont, some excellent Gooseberries growing in 
wet shady places, and among grass and plants. I also, most un- 
expectedly, found a stray Gooseberry bush growing among tall 
rye, and bearing a full crop of excellent fruit. I give these 
instances to show that the Gooseberry is fond of shade and moist- 
ure in this climate, and to grow them with success in the garden, 
abundant dew and moisture must be provided, and this the grass 
fully supplies. 
There are two gardens within the limits of this city, which 
have produced Gooseberries from year to year, entirely free of 
5Ca6, when all others, we may say, generally had their fruit ruined. 
These, I ascertained, were grown rather by negligence than 
design, at first among the grass. One of the gardens belongs to 
the Rev. Dr. Jarvis, the other to Mr. John Bliss. The latter 
assures me, he has not failed during about twenty years in having 
his Gooseberries free from the scab. I purposely watched these 
gardens attentively, as well as several others, to give a faithful 
report of this novel mode of culture, which promises so much. I 
found them nearly ripe, July 4. The berries were of the red kind, 
of a medium size. The bushes required the aid of props to secure 
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