The Gooseberry. 141 



of woods and sylvan dells, the gooseberry, under cultiva- 

 tion, is always the better for a moderate amount of shade, 

 though it suffers from too much. Hence it does well 

 even when planted against a north garden wall, and when 

 so placed, if covered up at the proper time with matting, 

 fruit remains at command till the time even of damsons. 

 The best way to grow gooseberries is unquestionably 

 upon trellises. The plants then occupy comparatively 

 little space. Being more easily pruned, and the summer 

 growth cleared out of the way of the sunshine, the wood 

 gets better matured, and heavier crops are the result; 

 they can be netted with greater facility for protection 

 against the birds, and the fruit can be gathered with 

 greater speed and comfort than from bushes in their 

 natural touch-me-not state. 



The sportiveness of the gooseberry is comparable with 

 that of the apple and the pear. Hence the distinction, 

 not only of smooth and hairy sorts by some distin- 

 guished as the " Esau " varieties but the four-fold classi- 

 fication of red, yellow, white, and green. Tastes and 

 preferences vary as usual, but upon the whole it is 

 acknowledged that the yellows are the richest and most 

 vinous in flavour, and that the least meritorious, especially 

 when large, are the green sorts. The best for preserving 

 are found among the hairy kinds. Smooth sorts, or 

 nearly smooth, are preferred for vinegar, and for that 

 capital old English domestic beverage, gooseberry wine, 

 which, when skilfully manufactured, possesses the colour 

 and the flavour of champagne, and mantles like the best 



