204 
WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
open more than the currant, because if the air does not have 
free access to every portion of the plant mildew is almost cer 
tain to destroy, not only the fruit, but the inside branches, if 
not the whole plant. The regular annual pruning may be per¬ 
formed at any time after the wood is fully matured in the fall 
until the buds swell in the spring. 
Soil and Culture .—It likes a good, deep, moist soil, but one 
that is not very wet. A rich soil is also essential, because it 
is only by keeping up a vigorous growth that large fruit and 
abundant crops can be secured. 
An open, airy situation is better than one that is confined, 
and in many sections of the country the north side of a hill 
would be far preferable to a southern exposure. The extreme 
heat of our summer has been the greatest impediment to the 
successful cultivation of the English gooseberries. To coun¬ 
teract this, the coolest, available situation should be selected. 
In enriching the ground, use no fermenting manure; apply 
only that which is old and well rotted. Cow manure is far 
better than that from the horse stable, particularly on light, 
warm soils. Mulching the plants in summer is very beneficial. 
Good culture is required to produce good crops, the same as 
with other fruits. 
STRAWBERRIES. 
Soil .—Strawberries may be grown upon a variety of soils, 
but, to secure an abundant yield of the first quality of fruit 
the best soil is probably a deep, heavy loam, with clay subsoil. 
The plant has such a mass of fibrous roots that it readily ap¬ 
propriates all the strength of the soil; hence good culture and 
a rich soil are requisite to the greatest success. 
Manner of Cultivation depends somewhat upon the extent 
of your plantation. For garden culture the hill system is un¬ 
doubtedly the easiest and most productive with certain vari¬ 
eties. 
In preparing the ground, the soil should be well pulver¬ 
ized, and when manure is used it should be thoroughly mixed 
with the soil. Mark off the land with a small plow into rows 
