264 POPULAR FRUIT GROWING. 



ent species is grown and where it is a favorite fruit. There 

 are several species of the gooseberry that enter into our culti- 

 vated kinds. The color of the cultivated gooseberries varies 

 from a pale green to a deep red when ripe. 

 Origin: 



(a) The American gooseberry has come from the Ribes 

 oxyacanthoides of America. Examples are the Houghton and 

 the Smith. There are several other species of native American 

 gooseberries which are used locally in a wild state. The great- 

 est objection to this class is the large number of sharp prickles. 

 Some of the new varieties are a great improvement in this re- 

 spect. 



(b) The European gooseberry is Ribes grossularia. Exam- 

 ples are the Industry and the Lancastershire Lad. They are 

 not much grown in America as they are especially subject to 

 mildew in this country. 



Crosses. — There are a number of crosses between the Eu- 

 ropean and American gooseberries. The Triumph and the 

 Downing are each supposed to be crosses of this kind. 



The directions given for growing the currant apply with 

 equal force to the gooseberry, except in a few particulars, which 

 are included under the following heads: 



Propagation. — Most varieties of the gooseberry do not grow 

 as readily from cuttings as the currant, and many kinds with 

 small, slender wood it is almost impossible to root in this way. 

 For this reason layering is a most common method of propaga- 

 tion. If the branches are carefully covered with soil in June, 

 after the new growth is six or more inches long, each twig will 

 be found slightly rooted by autumn. They should then be taken 

 up and cut apart with a piece of the rooted main branch with 

 each twig. These little layers should be set out at once in the 

 spring and treated the same as recommended for currant cut- 

 tings. Some varieties need to have the bark slightly broken 

 when they are laid down, but most kinds root readily without 

 this trouble. 



Planting. — Autumn is the time usually preferred for set- 

 ting the gooseberry. The sprouts start into growth so very 

 early in the spring that any delay at that time causes them a 



