CHAPTER XII 

 GOOSEBERRIES 



THE gooseberry is one of the lesser of the small-fruits of 

 the United States. It is apparently prized and appreciated 

 less than almost any other fruit. It is extremely sour, 

 and the custom of using it only in the green state prevents 

 some of its qualities from becoming known. Many persons 

 do not care for it, and the demand is much less than for 

 the berry fruits, while the supply is often more than cor- 

 respondingly less. In spite of this apparent indifference, 

 it has many good qualities to commend it. In the green 

 state, as generally sold, it bears shipment exceedingly 

 well, reaching the consumer, when properly handled, with 

 no waste, and in as good condition as when it left the 

 plants. 



The total area devoted to gooseberry culture in the 

 United States in 1909, according to the census report, was 

 4,765 acres. This was nearly 2,000 acres less than ten 

 years before, when the amount reported was 6,752 acres. 

 New England, and the Mountain divisions show an in- 

 crease, all others a decrease, though in the Middle Atlantic 

 section it is so slight as to be negligible. The East North 

 Central division leads, with 1,482 acres in 1909. This is 

 closely followed by the West North Central division, with 

 1,232 acres. It outranks the currant in the South At- 

 lantic and East South Central divisions, but falls behind 



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