PRACTICAL PAPERS—SMALL FRUITS. 
203 
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every portion of the plant, and this cannot be done if it be¬ 
comes crowded, either with old or new wood. A half dozen 
large, vigorous shoots will give more and larger fruit than 
double that number of weak and immature ones. 
Profits of Culture , Sc .—In planting the common red and 
white varieties four feet apart each way is sufficient, thus giving 
2,722 plants per acre. If we estimate our crop at two pounds 
per plant, which is not one-half the amount they should pro¬ 
duce when fully grown, we will get 5,444 pounds per acre, or 
over two tons and a half. At two hundred dollars per ton this 
will amount to over five hundred dollars ; then we have the 
gathering, shipping, cultivation and other incidental expenses to 
deduct therefrom. But even then it may be seen that it will 
be a very profitable crop. In case of great abundance the prices 
may be somewhat reduced, but by good cultivation the crop 
may be double the estimate given above. 
The currant possesses many good qualities to recommend 
it; among which are its perfect hardiness, easy culture, early 
fruiting, great productiveness, with almost the certainty of a 
full crop every year. 
THE GOOSEBERRY. 
Its History .—The gooseberry was not known as a cultivated 
fruit until within the last two or three hundred years. Park¬ 
inson, in 1640, mentions eight varieties, but these increased so 
rapidly in the next hundred years, that Miller, in 1731, said 
that it was needless to undertake to enumerate them. 
Propagation .—The same methods recommended for the cur- 
I’ant, with one or two exceptions, are equally applicable to the 
gooseberry. As a general thing, it does not ripen its wood so 
early in the season as the currant, and the planting of the cut¬ 
tings may be deferred until spring. They are, however, more 
certain if made in the fall after the leaves have fallen, cr when 
the young wood is fully matured. 
Pruning and Training .—The single stem system is probably 
the best one for training. The head of the bush should be 
