Gooseberries. 227 



long in England, but which we are able to grow with very partial success. 

 It remembers its birthplace even more strongly than the currant, and the 

 almost invariable mildew of our gardens is the sign of its homesickness. 

 The cool, moist climate of England just suits it, and it is the pride of the 

 gardens of Lancashire to surpass the world in the development of large 

 specimens. Mr. Downing writes : 



" We are indebted to the Lancashire weavers, who seem to have taken it up as 

 a hobby, for nearly all the surprisingly large sorts of modern date. Their annual 

 shows exhibit this fruit in its greatest perfection, and a gooseberry book is pub- 

 lished in Manchester every year, giving a list of all the prize sorts, etc." 



The extraordinary pains taken is suggested by the following quota- 

 tion from the Encyclopaedia of Gardening : 



" To effect this increased size, every stimulant is applied that their ingenuity can 

 suggest. They not only annually manure the soil richly, but also surround the 

 plants with trenches of manure for the extremities of the roots to strike into, and 

 form round the stem of each plant a basin, to be mulched, or manured, or watered, 

 as may become necessary. When a root has extended too far from the stem, it 

 is uncovered, and all the strongest leaders are shortened back nearly one-half of 

 their length, and covered with fresh, marly loam, well manured. The effect of 

 this pruning is to increase the number of fibres and spongioles, which form rapidly 

 on the shortened roots, and strike out in all directions among the fresh, newly 

 stirred loam, in search of nutriment." 



This is carrying culture to an extreme rarely, if ever, seen in America. 

 The annual referred to above recorded one hundred and fifty-five goose- 

 berry exhibitions in 1863. The number of varieties is almost endless, and 

 more than seven hundred prize sorts are named in Lindley's " Guide to the 

 Orchard " ; but not one of them, I fear, can be grown in this country, except 

 under favorable conditions and with extra care. Even after supplying such 

 conditions, they will often mildew in spite of our best efforts. Again, in some 

 localities, and for obscure causes, they will thrive and continue for years 

 quite free from this chief enemy of the foreign gooseberry. Repeated 

 applications of the flowers of sulphur over the bushes, from the time the fruit 

 sets until it is ripe, are probably the best preventive. Thorough mulching, 

 rigorous pruning, and high culture are also to be recommended. Those 

 who garden for pleasure would do well to try some of these fine foreigners. 



The following are some that Mr. Downing and others have recom- 

 mended : 



