UOOSILUERRY. 329 



lish gooseberries, and particularly those of the lar- 

 gest kinds, have been found so liable to mildew in 

 this country as to be almost worthless, and many 

 gardeners have given up their cultivation in despair. 

 To what cause this disposition to disease is to be 

 traced does not seem to be satisfactorily known. 

 Whether to defects in the culture, too much crowd- 

 ing of the plants, or too little pruning of the branch- 

 es, or whether to some pecuUarity of our climate, 

 such as its greater heat and more sudden changes 

 during the summer months, is undecided. Probably 

 all these causes are operative ; but we think the cli- 

 mate is the most likely to be the principal agent in 

 this disorganizing process. No method of prevent- 

 ing the mildew is yet known other than close pru- 

 ning, and a free circulation of air to every part of 

 the head of the plant. 



There are several varieties of native gooseberries, 

 some covered with strong, close prickles or spines, 

 and some that are smooth like the English kinds. 

 One of the wild kinds grows in swamps, is smooth, 

 covered with a bloom like the plum, and in tallness 

 much resembles the cranberry. It is a shy bearer, 

 and the fruit rather small, or it would be a desirable 

 variety for many uses. The native varieties are the 

 finest flavoured, and might probably be improved by 

 cultivation. As it is, they make a fine, close hedge 

 or border for gardens, and deserve a place in every 

 collection of fruit, as they usually produce abundant- 

 ly, and are, so far as we have noticed, perfectly ex- 

 empt from mildew. The common gooseberry, cul- 

 tivated in the usual manner in borders or hedge- 

 rows, lasts many years, and requires little or no 

 attention. 



Gooseberries are a very delicious fruit, and the 

 larger varieties, when free from mildew, are highly 

 prized for the dessert. The smaller kinds make the 

 richest of pies, tarts, &c. ; and gooseberry wine is 

 of the finest flavour when properly made. The fruit- 



