1 3 o 



VARIATION 



under cultivation that nothing is known of their origin. Of others, 

 on the contrary, the life history is well known. 



When Europeans peopled America they naturally brought 

 with them their fruits, their vegetables, their grains, their grasses, 

 and their domestic animals. The new country was rich in native 

 species, both plant and animal, but the European species had 

 the advantage of being better known and better adapted to the 

 special needs of man. Accordingly, wherever the introduced 

 varieties succeeded, the corresponding native types were neg- 

 lected ; but when the European varieties failed, then the natives 

 were developed. It is from this latter class that some important 

 observations may be made. 1 



The gooseberry. 2 The large English gooseberry was too tender 

 for the American climate, and withal was exceedingly liable to 

 mildew. Native varieties flourished widely in the forests. Unfor- 

 tunately the varieties bearing the largest berries were exceedingly 

 thorny, both on bush and fruit. Side by side, however, with these 

 prickly sorts were smooth varieties, free from " prickers" both on 

 fruit and bush. These were freely transplanted to the gardens 

 of the pioneers and furnished an acceptable fruit. 3 In good time 

 they developed improved sorts, first the Houghton, a seed- 

 ling originated by Abel Houghton of Lynn, Massachusetts, some- 

 time in the early forties. Then came the Downing, a seedling of 

 the Houghton, first described in 1853, the fruit of which is said 

 to be " the largest yet known, being about twice the size of the 

 Houghton's seedling, its parent ; it is pale or light green, without 

 any blush, and smooth. The skin is very thin and the fruit as 

 delicate and tender as any European gooseberry on its native 

 soil. The flavor and aroma are perfect." 



Bailey observes in this connection, " This berry, now known 

 as the Downing, is the standard of excellence in American 

 gooseberries, and is probably grown more extensively than all 

 other varieties combined ; and yet it is only two removes from 

 the wild species." 



1 L. H. Bailey, Evolution of our Native Fruits [The Macmillan Company, 

 New York]. 



2 Ibid. pp. 389-399- 



8 The writer remembers very well as a boy searching the woods, and espe- 

 cially the swamps, of Michigan for these smooth varieties for transplanting. 



