Page:How and what to grow in a kitchen garden of one acre (IA howwhattogrowin00darl).pdf/166

 palatable as in the spring, and that it can easily be canned for winter use. Like asparagus, it must be liberally and continually fed, to have it in fine condition and of good size.

The currants and gooseberries are subject to the ravages of the currant worm, which cleans up every leaf and berry on the bushes just as they are about to ripen. To prevent this, the bushes should be dusted with white hellebore when the first worm makes his appearance; as this is a very strong poison many are afraid to use it; and, indeed, great care must be taken in using the fruit; still, the worms usually appear about the time the bushes are in bloom, and if promptly welcomed will have disappeared, and the poison be washed off the bushes before the fruit has formed. Any one who does not like to use the hellebore can dust the bushes with road dust or dry wood ashes every morning while the dew is still on the leaves; care should be taken that the under side of the leaves should receive a good portion of whatever is used. There is still another way of getting rid of these pests, and that is by hand-picking them; but any one who has tried it will agree with me that it is a somewhat tedious process when done every morning for a couple of weeks.

When the fall comes these bushes should be well mulched, and in the spring, before the growth starts, the old wood should be cut out of them, care being taken not to trim them too severely; never take out more than a third of the wood, or you will trim away your crop of fruit for the season. When the spring opens, dig in the mulch and keep the ground well