PRUNING GOOSEBERRIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22142, 22 June 1935, Page 8 (Supplement)

PRUNING GOOSEBERRIES

j THINNING ESSENTIAL Bush fruits, as seen in "many gardens, are frequently a dense mass of growths that do not produce anything like the quantity of fruit of which they are capable, if attended to in the matter of pruning. Gooseberries are especially neglected in this respect. In the main the pruning of these consists of shortening all ill-placed laterals or side shoots, especially those crowding the centre of the bush, to within two or three buds of their base, leaving well-placed, sturdy young growths practically full length wherever there is room.

The leading shoots extending each main branch should be shortened by

sdf

Method of shortening: main branches on gooseberry, which has been thoroughly thinned. about one-half or one-third, according to vigour. Growths drooping near the ground should be cut back to a bud on the upper side of the shoot, so that the future growth from that point will be directed upward, off the ground. Certain varieties have a marked drooping habit, and produce many of these shoots which arch over to the ground, and if it is remembered to cut to an upper bud, much may be done to correct this tendency, and encourage a more erect habit of growth. When dealing with old, neglected bushes, the pruner should aim to replace old, weakly branches with young growths. There will usually be found a young growth in a convenient position to replace the old one. If one or two strong new shoots from the base of the bush are left in for this purpose, then faulty worn-out branches may be cut out as opportunity offers. If this cutting out of old, worn-out branches is practised systematically the bushes will be almost completely rejuvenated.

FORCING RHUBARB The delicate flavour of rhubarb that has been forced is much more appreciated than that which has been grown out of doors. The growing in the dark gives the sticks a crispness and tenderness unattainable by any other means. Plants that have been established for two years are selected for forcing, and to prepare them the roots are lifted as soon as the foliage has died down, and are then left on the surface of the ground for a few weeks. After exposure to frost, the roots start into growth much more readilv.

The earliest supplies are obtained by placing the roots in boxes of soil in a warm greenhouse. If kept moist and dark and sprayed daily with warm water, an abundance of delicate sticks will soon be obtained. Later supplies are secured by placing the roots in a

darkened shed and, giving the same treatment, the latest supply of forced rhubarb can be provided for by covering the roots in the open ground with boxes or barrels, or, if the roots are not too spreading, large drainpipes make very efficient covers.

If fresh manure is heaped round the coverings, sufficient heat is generated to advance the maturity of the crop very considerably. Plants that have been forced may be replanted in the open ground, and are not used again for forcing until the.v have made two season's growth. Plants forced in the open ground will supply early produco in alternate years.

THE CREPE MYRTLE Lagerstroemia indica or " crepe myrtle " is sometimes a disappointing shrub as it fails to flower as soon as is expected. The trouble is that those shrubs do not, ns a rule, flower until several years old. During the summer, abundance of water is required to enablo good growth to bo made, nnd all trio pruning required is to shorten the growths by one-third at the end of the winter. The flowers are produced in terminal or axillary clusters in summer. The crinkly, crepe-like petals may he of various shades of pink, mauve, rose or purple, and a well-shaped bush in full flower is very effective.

SEASONAL REMINDERS . If it is intended to graft fruit trees in the spring, tho scions from tho selected trees should bo cut off, tied in small bundles, correctly labelled, and half-buried in the soil in a shady place, so that they may bo in a less advanced state of growth than the stock on which they are to be grafted. Lime should be applied to* the land in need of it. It is not necessary to dig in this useful material, though it may be forked lightly beneath the surface of the ground.