GOOSEBERRY. 127 



could be appropriated in this compilation. Seven 

 hundred and twenty-two are enumerated by Lindley ; 

 these are divided or classed according to their colors, 

 white, green, yellow, red, and dark purple. These 

 differ much in quality ; some of the largest fruit, 

 having a thick skin, are fit only for cooking, while 

 others are fine for the table. In our importations of 

 this fruit, we have invariably sent for those only 

 which are considered the best table varieties, without 

 regard to names. The gooseberry bush will flourish 

 in almost any soil, but that which is humid and 

 richly manured will produce the largest fruit. " The 

 best soil," says Rogers, " is a fine fresh loam, neither 

 too heavy nor too light, eighteen inches deep, and if 

 resting on a sub-soil of clay, so much the better." 

 They should be set in the most open and airy situa- 

 tion in the garden ; as in a confined and close loca- 

 tion, as well as in the hot sun without a good 

 circulation of air, they are exceedingly inclined to 

 mildew. To destroy the green worm, as also the 

 small orange-colored aphides, which often injure the 

 bushes and destroy the fruit, we sprinkle the plants 

 with salt and water early in the spring, before the 

 leaves are developed ; the mixture may then be made 

 so strong as to whiten the branches, without affect- 

 ing the future 'crop of fruit. Should the leaves or 

 buds be in part expanded, the brine should be greatly 

 reduced, say one quart of salt to about eight gallons 

 of soft water, applied over the bushes from the rose 

 of a watering pot. One of the best situations for 

 this fruit is upon moist and warm hills. 



