450 



SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY 



flavor making it particularly delectable. To have the fruit at its 

 best, i)icking must not be hurried. Industry, 

 to which Crown Bob is similar, is much freer 

 from mildew and should be i)lanted in pref- 

 erence to this variety for markets. Crown 

 Bob is an old English sort long grown in 

 America. 



Plants dwarfish, spreading, vigorous, very produc- 

 tive. Fruit early, dark red, medium to large, nearly 

 round; skin thin, somewhat hairy; flesh firm, juicy, 

 rich, sweet; quality good. 



721. Downing (Fig. 270). R. hirfeUiun 

 X R' Grossularia. — Downing is the standard 

 gooseberry derived from a native species, al- 

 though it is now agreed by all that it is a 

 hybrid with the European gooseberry. The vines are remark- 

 ably vigorous, healthy and productive, and the fruits, although 

 small, are smooth, thin-skinned, attractive in ap- 

 pearance, and of very good quality. It is grown 

 more widely in America than any other goose- 

 berry. The fruit must be picked as soon as full 

 size, since decay sets in soon after maturity. 

 Downing originated from seed of Houghton 

 sown by Charles Downing, Newburgh, New 

 York, about 1860. 



Fig. 269. Crown 

 Bob. 



Fig. 270. Down- 

 ing. 



Plants medium in size, very vigorous, very productive, 

 upright, dense-topped; canes stout, somewhat resembling 

 those of European gooseberries. Leaves large, glabrous; 

 margin crenate, somew^hat hairy. Flowers midseason, American type, green 

 tinged with red. Fruit midseason, small, round-oval, pale green with light 

 bloom; skin thin and smooth; flesh soft, juicy, rich^ sweetish but sprightly; 

 quality very good; seeds small, numerous. 



722. Houghton (Fig. 271) R. hirtelliim X R- Grossidaria. 

 — After Downing, Houghton is the most widely and commonly 

 planted gooseberry in America. However, the variety has sev- 

 eral faults and does not deserve its popularity. Faults are : the 

 fruits are very small and uninviting in appearance and taste; 

 the foliage is susceptible to mildew and aphis; and canners, to 



