12 



CROMPTON'S SHEBA QUEEN GOOSEBERRY. 



Compton's Sheba Queen. Hort. Soc. Fruit Catalogue, 

 p. 194. 



Among the Lancashire Gooseberries, which are 

 cultivated more on account of their size as prize 

 fruits, than for their merits in the dessert, this has 

 the advantage of possessing a very superior flavour. 

 The name of the individual attached to the 

 variety as its original grov^er, is erroneously spelled 

 Compton in most of the Sale Catalogues of Fruits. 



Of the four classes into which the Gooseberries 

 are usually divided according to their colour, viz. 

 red, yellow, green, and white, this belongs to the 

 last. It is included in most of the shew lists, but 

 does not stand high in the number of prizes allotted 

 to it. The largest berry of it produced in the last 

 three years weighed 18 dwts. : this was in 1825, 

 when the heaviest recorded of the whole class was 

 the White Eagle, which weighed 23 dwts. 20 grs. 



The Branches grow somewhat erect. 



The Berry is roundish oblong, and ripens early. 

 The Skin is thin and downy. Flavour very rich. 



A good bearer. 



