294 THE. GOOSEBERRY. 



WHITE ISCHIA. Thonp. 

 Green Ischia. Lind. Fors. 



A very small fig, but one of the hardiest of the light coloured 

 ones. Fruit about an inch in diameter, roundish-obovate. Skin 

 pale yellowish green, very thin, and, when fully ripe, the darker 

 coloured pulp appears through it. Pulp purplish, and high fla- 

 voured, A moderate grower and good bearer. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



THE GOOSEBERRY. 



Ribes Grossularia, Arb. Brit. Grossulacece, of botanists. 



Grosseiller, of the French ; StachelbeerstratLch, German ; Uva Spino, 



Italian; Grossetta, Spanish. 



THE gooseberry of our gardens is a native of the north of 

 Europe, our native species never having been improved by gar- 

 den culture. This low prickly shrub, which, in its wild state, 

 bears small round or oval fruit, about half an inch in diameter, 

 and weighing one fourth of an ounce, has been so greatly im- 

 proved by the system of successive reproduction from the seed, 

 and high culture by British gardeners, that it now bears fruit 

 nearly, or quite two inches in diameter, and weighing an ounce 

 and a half. Lancashire, in England, is the meridian of the 

 gooseberry, and to the Lancashire weavers, who seem to have 

 taken it as a hobby, we are indebted for nearly all the surpris- 

 ingly large sorts of modern date. Their annual shows exhibit 

 this fruit in its greatest perfection, and a GOOSEBERRY BOOK is 

 published at Manchester every year giving a list of all the prize 

 sorts, etc. Indeed the climate of England seems, from its moist- 

 ness and coolness, more perfectly fitted than any other to the 

 growth of this fruit. On the continent it is considered of little 

 account, and with us, south of Philadelphia, it succeeds but in- 

 differently. In the northern, and especially in the eastern 

 states, however, the gooseberry, on strong soils, where the best 

 sorts are chosen, thrives admirably, and produces very fine 

 crops. 



USES. This fruit is in the first place a very important one 

 in its green state, being in high estimation for pies, tarts, and 

 puddings, coming into use earlier than any other. The earli- 

 est use made of it appears to have been as a sauce with 

 green goose, whence the name, goose-berry. In its ripe state, 

 it is a very agreeable table fruit, and in this county, following 



