GOOSEBERRIES. 149 



Black, and the Black Naples. The latter is accounted the 

 preferable sort. The black currant thrives best in a moist, 

 deep soil, and shady situation. Its culture is much the 

 same as that of the other currants, but the young shoots 

 are not spurred. All the pruning necessary is to keep the 

 branches free of each other, and to promote a succession of 

 young wood. 



The American Congress of Fruit-growers at its meeting 

 in the city of New York in 1849, recommended the follow- 

 ing as the best varieties of currants for cultivation : Red 

 Dutch, Black Naples, White Dutch, May's Victoria, and 

 White Grape. 



The Gooseberry. — Botanists distinguished two species; 

 Ribes Grossularia, or rough-fruited gooseberry ; and Ribes 

 uva ci'ispa, or smooth-fruited gooseberry. The gooseberry 

 has always been a favorite fruit in Great Britain, and is 

 said to be produced in the middle districts of the island in 

 greater perfection than in any other part of the world. 

 Many very large sorts have originated in Lancashire, where 

 the culture has been carried to a high degree of refinement ; 

 but it is to be regretted that weight seems, unreasonably 

 enough, to be regarded in the prize competitions in that 

 duchy as the sole criterion of excellence. Berries of twenty 

 or even twenty -four pennyweights are boasted of ; but such 

 Goliaths are almost always inferior in flavor. The follow- 

 ing are some of those sorts recommended in the catalogue 

 of the London Horticultural Society. 



Red. — Red Champagne, Ironmonger, Rob Roy, Small 

 Red Globe, Keen's Seedling, Lord of the Manor Leigh's 

 Rifleman, Red Warrington, Wellington's Glory, Shipley's 

 Black Prince. 



Yellow. — Yellow Ashton, Yellow Champagne, Golden 



