390 THE EVOLUTION OF OUR NATIVE FRUITS 



this country, but its success is vicarious at the best, 

 owing to the attacks of a native fungus or mildew. 

 Wild berries, therefore, were forced upon the attention 

 of experimenters. Kenrick (1833), who is always 

 strong on the native fruits, mentions no named varie- 

 ties of American origin, even in the eighth edition of 

 his "New American Orchardist," 1848; but he speaks 

 of a report of excellent wild gooseberries growing in 

 the valley of the Columbia river. Goodrich, however, 

 remarks in his "Northern Fruit -Culturist" (Burlington, 

 Vt.), 1849, that "we have it from good authority that 

 native sorts have been discovered both in New Hamp- 

 shire and Vermont, well adapted to garden culture." 



Apparently the first native gooseberry to receive a 

 name was one originated by Abel Houghton, of Lynn, 

 Mass., and which now bears his name- How Hough- 

 ton came by this gooseberry seems not to be known. 

 The earliest record I know of it is in 1847, when it 

 was shown before the Massachusetts Horticultural 

 Society. The entry in Manning's history of the 

 society is the following: "The Houghton's Seedling 

 gooseberry, the first of those native varieties which 

 have proved so valuable for their exemption from mil- 

 dew, was exhibited by Josiah Lovett on the 7th of 

 August." In Downing's "Horticulturist" for 1848,* 

 appears the first full description : 



"HOUGHTON'S GOOSEBERRY. I have been expecting 

 a private opportunity to forward you, ere this, a box 

 of gooseberries, of the best variety I have ever seen. 

 It is so desirable a sort, that I could not well refrain 

 from forwarding a sample, as I now do, by express. 



