THE CAPE GOOSEBERRY. 



'TIHIS is the fruit of Physalis peruviana (pubescens), a native of South America, and 

 introduced into this country in 1772. There are two distinct forms of the type 

 cultivated for their berries. 



P. P. EDULIS. Flowers whitish, with violet anthers ; fruit yellow, globose, included in the inflated calyx (bladder- 

 like) ; flesh resembling a gooseberry, possessing a sweet, acidulous juice ; leaves almost entire ; sub-scandent. 



P. P. VIOLACEA. Flowers yellow, fruit dark violet, large, globose ; leaves cordate ; height 3 feet. Mexico, 1883. 

 This is only a cultivated form of the type, with larger and higher-coloured fruits, very decorative for dessert. 



The yellow-fruited Cape Gooseberry (P. p. edulis) is the most cultivated in 

 gardens, and its sweet, acidulous berries, which resemble cherries, are esteemed by 



some palates; they have a pleas- 

 ing appearance and flavour when 

 candied, and in that form are used 

 at dessert. 



Plants are easily raised from 

 seed sown in light, sandy loam in 

 spring, in gentle heat. They 

 should be potted singly when the 

 second leaves appear, and grown 

 near the glass to keep them 

 sturdy. When established in the 

 small pots the plants should be 

 removed to the greenhouse, and 

 be shifted into 5- and 7 -inch pots respectively as they fill those they are in with 

 roots. When about a foot high give them their final shift into pots 9 inches 

 in diameter, using a compost of light, fibrous loam and one-third leaf soil, or 

 well-decayed manure, and a sixth of sand, potting firmly. Place the plants where 

 they can be trained to a wall or trellis, or to sticks 5 or G feet long. Five sticks 



Fig. 39. CAPE GOOSEBERRY (PHYSALTS PERUVIANA EDULIS), IN 

 FLOWER AND FRUIT. 



1, Fruit half natural size ; 2, inflated calyx part removed. 



