RED GOOSEBERRIES. 215 



especially the former, as the best fruit is borne on the young 

 wood,) should now be taken out, leaving a proper distribution of 

 shoots throughout the bush, the head being sufficiently thinned 

 to admit freely the light and air. An additional pruning is, 

 in England, performed in June, which consists in stopping 

 the growth of long shoots by pinching out the extremities, and 

 thinning out superfluous branches ; but if the annual pruning 

 is properly performed, this will not be found necessary, except 

 to obtain fruit of extraordinary size. 



The crop should always be well thinned when the berries are 

 about a quarter grown. The gooseberry is scarcely subject to 

 any disease or insect in this country. The mildew, which at- 

 tacks the half grown fruit, is the great pest of those who are un- 

 acquainted with its culture. In order to prevent this, it is only 

 necessary 1st, to root up and destroy all inferior kinds subject 

 to mildew ; 2d, to procure from any of the nurseries some of the 

 best and hardiest Lancashire varieties ; 3d, to keep them well 

 manured, and very thoroughly pruned every year. 



We do not think this fruit shrub can be said to bear well for 

 more than a half dozen years successively. After that the 

 fruit becomes inferior and requires more care in cultivation. A 

 succession of young plants should, therefore, be kept up by 

 striking some cuttings every season. 



VARIETIES. The number of these is almost endless, new 

 ones being produced by the prize growers every year. The 

 last edition of the London Horticultural Society's Catalogue 

 enumerates 149 sorts considered worthy of notice, and Lindley's 

 Guide to the Orchard, gives a list of more than seven hundred 

 prize sorts. It is almost needless to say that many of these 

 very closely resemble each other, and that a small number 

 of them will comprise all the most valuable. 



The sorts bearing fruit of medium size are generally more 

 highly flavoured than the very large ones. We have selected 

 a sufficient number of the most valuable for all practical pur- 

 poses. 



/. Red Gooseberries. 



1. BOARDMAN'S BRITISH CROWN. Fruit very large, round- 

 ish, hairy, handsome and good. Branches spreading. 



2. CHAMPAGNE. A fine old variety, of very rich flavour. 

 Fruit small, roundish-oblong, surface hairy, pulp clear j branch- 

 es of very upright growth. 



3. CAPPER'S TOP SAWYER. Fruit large, roundish, pale red, 

 hairy; rather late, flavour very good. Branches drooping. 



4. FARROW'S ROARING LION. An immense berry, and hangs 

 late. Fruit oblong, smooth ; flavour excellent ; oranches 

 drooping. 



