CHAPTER XIV 



VARIETIES OF GOOSEBERRIES 



THE gooseberries cultivated for fruit belong to two dis- 

 tinct types, the European and the American. The former 

 are representatives of the species 

 known as Ribes Grossularia, Linn. 

 (Fig. 44) . The botanical origin of 

 the American type is somewhat 

 confused. Formerly it was 

 thought that R. oxyacanthoides, 

 Linn., is the parent of nearly all 

 our cultivated varieties. But it 

 was the eastern form of this type, 

 now given the specific name R. 

 hirtellum, that is chiefly involved. 

 Several of our best-known vari- 

 eties, such as Downing and 

 Houghton, are considered to be 

 hybrids between this and the 

 European type. 



One or two other native species 

 are already represented or are be- 

 ing used by plant-breeders in the 

 Grossula- development of varieties suited to 



particular regions. 

 Ribes Cynosbati, Linn., the prickly-fruited eastern goose- 

 berry has played little part in the development of American 



316 



44. Ribes 



ria (XI). 



