CHAP. XI VILLA GARDENING 295 



Varieties for Exhibition. — The followiug list of kinds have 

 obtained prizes for the heaviest berries at the Northern shows, and 

 are reckoned as being the best of their class : — 



Red. — Lord Derby, Bobby, Bliicher, London, Dan's Mistake, 

 Maccaroni, Beauty, and Ploughboy. 



Yeflow. — Ringer, Leveller, Mount Pleasant, Lady Houghton, 

 Thatcher, High Sheriff, Hit or Miss, and Pretender, 



Green. — Surprise, Stockwell, Diadem, Plunder, British Tar, 

 Shiner, Telegraph, and Green London. 



White. — Transparent, Antagonist, Fascination, Careless, March- 

 ioness, Hero of the Nile, Postman, and Princess-Royal. 



To produce the heaviest weights superior cultivation must be 

 given. The wood must be kept thin, all weak sprays being cut 

 out in summer, leaving only the strong young shoots which will be 

 required to bear the crop next year, and ample space must be 

 given to let in the air and the sunshine. The bushes should be 

 mulched beneath the branches, and in dry weather the mulch 

 should be kept moist, as this gives off a constant vapour, which 

 increases the size of the berries. Those who strive for the 

 mastery in Goosebeny culture cannot aftbrd to throw a chance 

 away, for the competition is keen. If the bush carries more than 

 a very limited number of berries in proportion to its size, some 

 must be taken oft', as, to the Gooseberry fancier, winning a prize 

 is of far greater importance than having a heavy crop of Goose- 

 berries. 



Varieties for Dessert — Bed. — Warrington, Champagne, 

 Wilmot's Early, Keen's Seedling, Ironmonger, Early Red Hairy. 



White. — Lady Leicester, Snowball, Whitesmith, Bright Venus, 

 Crystal. 



Green. — Early Green Hairy, Pitmaston Greengage, Green 

 Walnut, Yellow Champagne, Yellow Smith, Yellow Sulphur, 

 Broom Girl. 



In the above list are also found the best preserving kinds, 

 such as Champagne and Warrington. To obtain first-class dessert- 

 fruits the bushes should not be overloaded, because so many 

 are used in a green state that it is an easy matter to thin them 

 without incurring any waste. There is no doubt, I think, that it 

 is more profitable in a commercial sense to gather the fruit green 

 than permit the berries to ripen. Ripe Gooseberries are a perish- 

 able commodity, not suitable to send to a distant market ; but the 

 fruit when green will travel any distance, and keep any reasonable 

 length of time. When the bushes are relieved of their load 

 early they have plenty of time to rest and fill up the buds for the 

 next season. 



