304 



Report of the Horticultueist of the 



Hardiness and productiveness. — A comparison of English and 

 American gooseberries would not be complete without some ref- 

 erence to their relative productiveness, hardiness and freedom 

 from diseases. 



Currants and gooseberries are commonly classed among the 

 hardiest fruits of the temperate zone, but the unusually severe 

 winter of 1895-6 injured their buds in various sections of the 

 state so much that the crop of fruit the following summer was 

 a partial failure, although in other portions of the state they 

 yielded a full crop. It was noticeable that the European varie- 

 ties of gooseberries were injured more than the American varie- 

 ties at this Station and similar observations were reported 

 from other places. The following table gives a statement as the 

 average yield per bush in 1896 of some American and European 

 varieties which were planted here in 1888. The average yield 

 per bush for the past four seasons is also given for the purpose 

 of showing the comparative productiveness of these varieties 



here. 



European Class. 



Chautauqua 



Crown Bob 



Bagwell's No. 1 



Golden Prolific 



Industry 



Pnyallup 



Trinmph 



Wellington Glor.v 



Whitesmith 



American Class 



Crystal 



Downing 



Himghtim 



Mountain 



Pale Red 



Pearl 



Smith (Improved) 



Average weight 

 p»-r bush for 

 1896 in pounds. 



0.47 

 a few fruits 



0.19 

 a few fruits 



2.37 



2.94 



3.55 



1.25 



2.42 



7.75 

 7.30 

 5.33 

 2.50 

 5.68 

 3.58 

 0.69 



Averag-e tv- eight 

 pep bu'h for 

 fi.ur years in 

 pounds. 



1.99 

 228 

 2.20 

 2.13 

 8.27 

 5.03 

 6.24 

 8.35 

 4.54 



13.13 

 9 95 

 6.85 

 2.67 



10.58 

 4.37 

 2.13 



This table gives evidence that in the very important characters 

 of hardiness and productiveness the best of the American varie- 

 ties excel the best of the European varieties. 



