GOOSEBERRY.-GROSSU- 

 LARIA. 



In Botany, a Species of the Ribes, of the Class 

 Pentandria Monogynia. 



THE gooseberry, which is now so much and 

 so justly esteemed, is a native of Europe; 

 and as it grew in the woods and hedges 

 about Darlington, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, 

 and other northern counties, in the wild 

 state, I consider it indigenous to this coun- 

 try, although Drs. Smith and Miller both 

 entertained doubts of its being truly so. It 

 appears not to have been known to the an- 

 cients, either in Greece or Rome, as their 

 authors have made no mention of it ; but it 

 is noticed by the earliest naturalists who 

 have written in this country, notwithstanding 

 it was a fruit much neglected, according to 

 Allioni's account, who says, " they are eat- 

 able, but somewhat astringent/' Gerard says, 



