454 General Notices. 



berry and the gooseberry he also thinks, and justly too, may be greatly im- 

 proved. We quote the whole of his remarks, and commend them to the 

 attention of every amateur : — 



Last week, we took occasion to recommend to the attention of garden- 

 ers, and garden amateurs loo, the subject of improving what are called the 

 " small fruits." We then referred to the strawberry, the raspberry, the 

 gooseberry, and the currant, as examples, and offered some suggestions for 

 the improvement of the former. We now proceed with such further re- 

 marks as suggest themselves, and, in following up our former plan, will in- 

 quire, what can be done for the raspberry ? Perhaps less than in most other 

 kinds of small fruit. It is not clear that the flavor of the raspberry could 

 be at all improved. There is probably not much to be gained in the way of 

 imparting to it variety of appearance. The best varieties at least possess 

 the property of size, in a considerable degree ; and, though this might be 

 enlarged upon, yet it does not seem to strike one as a very necessary change ; 

 some of the present varieties, when well grown, may indeed be considered 

 large. Tn what way, therefore, could our present race of raspberries be im- 

 proved on ? 



There does seem to be one point at least on which an improvement might 

 be wrought. Notwithstanding that the fruit is held in such universal esti- 

 mation, the raspberry season is but of short duration. True, there is a 

 double bearing variety, as it is called, which fruits later than the other kinds : 

 this is valuable, so far, in itself: but we also take it as the earnest of some- 

 thing further. It is, in fact, just the thing to work with ; and we have no 

 doubt that a little well-directed energy would very shortly produce from it 

 varieties which would materially prolong the raspberry season. 



What can be done for the gooseberry? That the gooseberry cannot re- 

 sist the power of improvement to which we are referring, thete is ample 

 evidence in the production of the prize varieties for which Lancashire is fa- 

 mous. But the Lancashire growers breed only for size ; that quality they 

 have indeed stamped upon the fruit in a very remarkable degree ; but this 

 of itself is not enough for the dessert, nor yet for the culinary department ; 

 quality, not less than quantity, is a necessary recommendation in the gar- 

 den of the connoisseur. Gooseberry growers may, therefore, busy them- 

 selves to impart the flavor of the choicer kinds to the large show varieties 

 that are now chiefly raised ; and, in doing this, they will have eflTected an 

 improvement worthy of the eflbrt. But why not also prolong the gooseberry 

 season? It is fully short enough. Some of the early kinds might, in lime, 

 be pushed a little nearer the vernal equinox than we now have them ; and 

 this early race would not be injured by increased size, and more concen- 

 trated flavor. Then, aga.n, with the late varieties. Might not new 

 forms, later than any we now possess, be obtained ? And would not, in this 

 case also, additional size constitute a further improvement? These results 

 are only waiting the well-directed eflbrts of some zealous individual to meet 

 a full realization. 



What can be done for the currant? We see no reason why bunches of 

 currants should not, for size, bear a closer comparison than now, with 



