NEW ENGLAND FARMEE. 



153 



Houc/hton's Seedling. 



THE GOOSEBERHY. 



For the New England Farmer. 



Mr. Euitou : The gooseberry requires a deep, rich 

 soil, and the same general culture as the currant. 

 It is naturally fond of a moist soil, and is raised in 

 the humid atmosphere of England in its greatest 

 perfection. In our hot and drj' climate, it is natu- 

 rally found in wet swamps, or in moist, rocky wood- 

 lands. 



As the English or Scotch gooseberry has never 

 succeeded Aveli with us, in consequence of its liabil- 

 ity to mildew, — a disease incident to our hot and dry 

 climate, — we were induced, a ievf years since, to 

 attempt to produce some seedlings from a cross 

 between a Lancashire and our native kinds. We 

 have succeeded in producing several varieties, pos- 

 sessing some excellence. 



But the best gooseberry we have seen thus pro- 

 duced, and far exceeding any thing of our own 

 production, is the one raised by Mr. Abel Houghton, 

 formerly of Lynn, Mass. Some years since, we re- 

 ceived from ?(Ir. Houghton this gooseberry, and it has 

 proved to be a very fine variety, and I think it com- 

 bines more good qualities than any kind I have ever 

 seen. My friend, Mr. Ives, of Salem, who also has 

 this gooseberry under culture, speaks of it as being 

 worthy of general culti%'ation, and that it possesses 

 the habits of the " Crown Bob " in throwing out 

 long pendent shoots. These long branches ai"e some- 

 thing peculiar to this variety, and, when suffered to 

 grow and trail \ipon the ground, readily take root, 

 and thus new plants are rapidly produced. When 

 these are kept from the ground, bj' tying them to 

 stakes, they can be trained to a considerable dis- 

 tance. 



In my mind, there is but little doubt that this 

 iine gooseberry is a hybrid, produced b)^ a cross be- 

 tween a wild gooseberry and the " Crown Bob." 

 It is very hardy, most easily propagated, bears 

 regularly, and most profusely', the berries thicklj' 

 set on the branches, and crowding each other to 

 their very ends. It also commences bearing at a 

 very earl^' period of its growth. The berries, when 

 properly cvdtivated, are generally of a good size, 

 the skin very thin and tender, of a dull, pale ^vhite, 

 tinged with a reddish brown. The flesh is easily 

 broken, and sweet and pleasant to the taste. 



Although M-e have cultivated it for several years, 

 we have never known it to blight. To produce fine 

 fruit of a good size, the shrrrb should be highly cul- 

 tivated, and all the old wood cut out. It also should 

 be set where it will not receive the intense heat of 

 the noonday sun, as, when thus exposed, the fruit is 

 liable to be injured, and fall before it is ripe. The 

 fruit is ripe the last of July, but it can be retarded 



in its ripening by setting the plants on the north 

 side of a wall or fence. We are in the habit of 

 strewing ashes around the bushes, and covering the 

 ground with spent tan. This serves to keep it 

 moist and light. From all that we have seen of the 

 Houghton gooseberry, after several years' cultivation, 

 we would, with great confidence, recommend it for 

 general cultivation. S. P. FOWLER. 



Danveks New Mills, April 13, 1849. 



Editorial Remarks. 

 The opinion of Mr. Fowler on the Houghton 

 gooseberry is in accordance with our own experience 

 and observation. In the first year that we set some 

 little twigs of this variety, they grew vigorously, 

 and the next season they were covered with fruit to 

 their tips. While most kinds of gooseberries are of 

 coarse texture, and of a harsh, acid quality, suitable 

 for cooking only, this is tender, sweet and luscious, 

 forming a valuable dessert fruit, iDarticularly for 

 children, and many others, who prefer a saccharine 

 property. 



REPORTS OF THE AGRICULTURAL 

 MEETINGS. 



At the meeting, April 10, the subject of agricul- 

 tural education was postponed, on account of the 

 small number in attendance. The committee, to 

 whom the subject of publishing reports of the meet- 

 ings in a permanent form was referred, substituted 

 the following preamble and resolves, which were 

 passed : — 



It being the purpose of the Legislative Farmers' 

 Meetmgs to acquire and diffuse a knowledge of the 

 most productive and economical methods of farming 

 and gardenmg, through the contributions of farmers 

 and men of science, and also to preserve the same in 

 a durable form, by suitable reports of their proceed- 

 ings, — 



It is therefore resolved that hereafter, at those 

 meetings, measures be taken to have accurate reports 

 of their proceedings published in the volume of 

 " Transactions of the Agricultural Societies " of 

 Massachusetts, annually prepared by the secretary of 

 state, and published by order of the commonwealth. 



It is further resolved, that the foregoing duty, in 

 its details, be devolved upon the standing committee 

 appointed at the commencement of each of these 

 annual meetings. 



