656 



GOODYERA 



GOOSEBERRY 



Orchiddcece, tribe Neottiece. This genus includes the 

 Rattlesnake Plantain and a few other dwarf terrestrial 

 orchids of minor importance which are cult, chiefly for 

 their variegated foliage. They grow a few inches high, 

 with scapes 8-15 in. high at most. About 25 species. 

 Lvs. radical, usually reticulately veined: fls. in dense 

 or loose spikes; labellum saccate; anther on the back 

 of the column. 



A. Hardy native plants. 



B. Labellum strongly inflated, with a short tip. 

 pub6scens, R. Br. RATTLESNAKE PLANTAIN. Fig. 

 920. Lvs. ovate, deep green ; veins netted, 

 white: scape stout: spike dense, ovate in outline 

 before anthesis: fls. globular, whitish; beak of 

 stigma short, obscure. Aug. N. F. to Fla., west 

 to Mich, and Minn. L.B.C. 1:1. B.B. 1:474. Mn. 

 2:54. F.S. 15:1555. A. G. 12:281 and 13:520. Should 

 be grown in ordinary loam mixed with pine needles 

 and dry pine twigs. Not well suited for green- 

 house cult. 



BB. Labellum saccate, with an elongated tip. 



c. Beak of the stigma shorter than its body. 



repens, R. Br. Lvs. ovate to oblong-lanceolate; 

 veins dark : spike 1-sided : labellum with a re- 

 curved tip. L.B.C. 20:1987. B.B. 1:474. Rhodora, 

 1, plate 1. Var. ophibides, Fernald (Fig. 921). 

 is the commoner form of this species, with very 

 broadly marked Ivs. 



cc. Beak as long as or longer than the stigma. 



tesselata, Lodd. (G. pubescens, var. minor}. 

 Lvs. broadly ovate to oblong-lanceolate; venation 

 exceedingly variable : scape slender : spike loose : 

 fls. white; labellum less saccate than in 

 G. repens ; tip straight. B.M. 2540. 

 L.B.C. 10:952. Rhodora 1, plate 1. 

 Confused by tradesmen with the next. 

 Should be planted out in a rockery 

 in shade, the roots being firmly placed 

 among dead pine needles and 

 loam. Referred by Index Kew- 

 ensis to G. pubescens. 



BBB. Labellum scarcely sac- 

 cate, margin involute. 



Me"nziesii, T-indl. Plant rather 

 large: veins netted: spike somewhat 

 1-sided. Western U. S. to northern N. 

 Eng. B.B. 1:475. -Advertised by 

 Dutch dealers. 



AA. Tender exotics, cult, under glass. 



B. Lvs. with a whitish midvein. 

 vetttina, Maxim. Fls.whitish, tinged 

 rose. Japan. F.S. 17:1779. 



BB. Lvs. with white, netted veins. 

 Schlechtendaliana, Reichb. f. (G. Japdnica, Blume). 

 In general appearance like G. tesselata. Lvs. ovate: 

 spike loose : fls. white. Japan. Once advertised by 

 Pitcher & Manda. 



O. discolor. See Hsemaria. G. quer- 

 OAKES AMES. 



GOOBA NUT is a name for the Cola. 



921 ' 



G. Dawsoniana and 

 cicola. See Physurus. 



GOOSEBERRY. The Gooseberry and the currant are 

 two of the hardiest types of bush fruits. The native forms 

 range far north into British America (see Ribes ) . Seed- 

 lings of these are also very hardy. English varieties are 

 comparatively tender. The Gooseberry appears not to 

 have been cultivated for more than 300 years. There 

 was, however, a remarkable increase in the number of 

 varieties in England between 1650 and 1750. The Goose- 

 berry became a favorite fruit with the Lancashire weav- 

 ers, who should be credited with this great develop- 

 ment. Miller, 1731, says it would be useless to attempt 

 an enumeration of varieties. In America the Gooseberry 

 has been a neglected fruit. With wild forms in abun- 

 dance, types greatly superior to those from which the 



immense English varieties were derived, with a crying 

 need for better table varieties, practically nothing has 

 been done to improve the natives. Our natives have not 

 been improved primarily because the American people 

 have never acquired or cultivated a taste for the fresh 

 fruit of the Gooseberry. In England the fruit of many 

 of the large, fine-flavored varieties is used uncooked. 

 In America the fruit of the Gooseberry is thought of 

 only in connection with pie (tart) or jam, and when 

 transformed into these food products, flavor, while of 

 some importance, is but a minor consideration. The 

 claim that English Gooseberries are less palatable than 

 the natives is quite true, when passed upon from 

 this standpoint. The best cooking apples are not 

 usually prized in the raw state on the table, and 

 vice versa. The point is this and it is worth mak- 

 ingthat there are dessert Gooseberries and also 

 culinary Gooseberries. We should keep the classes 

 distinct, and work for the production of varieties 

 with the vigor of our natives and quality and size 

 of fruit of the best European. Houghton was pro- 

 duced nearly 70 years ago, and Downing from 

 Houghton seed, grown by Charles Downing, about 

 40 years ago (see Bailey, "Evolution of our Native 

 Fruits "). These two varieties represent the Amer- 

 ican type, although it is possible that Downing is 

 the result of a cross between Houghton and some 

 European variety. The habit of the plant partakes 

 somewhat of European characteristics. Downing 

 is the more popular. 



Site and preparation of soil. The largest and 

 finest native bushes are found upon rich bottom 

 lands. Moist, but not soggy, clay loams give best 

 results. No amount of fertilizing will bring sandy 

 soil into condition suitable to the successful cul- 

 ture of the Gooseberry anywhere in this country 

 except, perhaps, along the north Atlantic and north 

 Pacific seaboards. Good results have been secured 

 in the Lake Ontario fruit region on reddish, cal- 

 careous clay. In such .situations the 

 fruit does not drop easily, and the 

 plants are usually free from mildew. 

 On the east and west coasts the aspect 

 or lay of the land is of less importance 

 than in the interior. In the mid-conti- 

 nental region a sharp, north 

 slope on a cool, clay loam ridge 

 is essential to the fullest suc- 

 cess. A clover sod turned under 

 and thoroughly worked up is an 

 excellent preparation for the 

 Gooseberry plantation. A heavy 

 preparatory application of barn- 

 yard manure may tend to make 

 the soil too porous and too eas- 

 ily dried out. If applied the sea- 

 son previous to setting the 

 plants, and the land is cropped 

 with potatoes, it will be left in 

 good condition to receive the Gooseberries. 



Gooseberries, particularly the English kinds, will en- 

 dure more shade than most fruit plants, provided the 

 soil is suitable. Good results are often secured by 

 planting in rather densely shaded city gardens. Where 

 these conditions prevail, special attention should be 

 paid to maintaining an open head, in order to discour- 

 age the growth of mildews. 



Planting and training. The Gooseberry vegetates at 

 a low temperature. It should, therefore, be planted as 

 soon as the ground can be worked in spring. A better 

 plan is to plant early in autumn. It may be transplanted 

 successfully as early as August 15 south of latitude 42 

 degrees, and north of that line from September 1 up to 

 the beginning of frosty weather. When set out late in 

 autumn, the surface of the ground should be thoroughly 

 mulched with straw or manure. The English varieties 

 grow somewhat larger than the American type, and re- 

 quire rather more space. The plants are variously dis- 

 tanced, according to the inclination of the grower; 6x3, 

 5x3, and 4x4 ft. apart for garden culture are the com- 

 moner distances at which the plants are set. 



The training of the Gooseberry is exceedingly simple. 

 It bears most freely on 2- and 3-year-old wood. The aim 



repens, var.ophioides. 

 Spike denser than common. 



