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Cape Gooseserry (Physalis peruviana). 
A Peruvian fruit introduced into Australia via the Cape of 
Good Hope: hence its name. The name “gooseberry” is misleading, 
as it is not a gooseberry at all. 
Three species of this genus are cultivated for fruit, known under 
the names Alkekenge or Cape Gooseberry, Husk tomato, Straw- 
berry tomato, Winter or Ground cherry. The plant is a branching 
perennial herb, belonging to the Solanacee, which includes such 
well-known plants as the tomato, tobacco, etc.; its roots are fibrous 
and surface feeders; by deep manuring ‘deeper root growth is en- 
couraged. The plant is somewhat susceptible to cold, therefore 
does best in localities free from frost. It likes a good subsoil, rich 
in available potash, and this is probably the reason why it does so 
well on newly burnt-off serub, the ashes of which provide the required 
potash. The fruit consists in a berry of the size of a cherry, enclosed 
in an enlarged and persistant calyx which forms a bladder-like en- 
velope. They are sweet and pleasant, and are considerably used for 
stewing or for preserves, and also for eating. 
The seeds are sown in the spring, and will not endure much 
frost, and for that reason are planted as soon as the warm weather 
sets in—August. They are sown in seed beds, like tomatoes, and 
then transplanted a month or two after and set 8 x 4 feet apart. 
They are easily propagated from off-shoots in the autumn. 
In the autumn cut right back, manure in the early spring, and 
fresh growth will come up. Picking is a tedious and costly process, . 
the price paid being about 144d. a lb., a man picking about 40lbs.- in 
one day. This is done when the zalyx is seen to dry up; the fruit 
is also often allowed to fall to the ground and then picked up. 
THE CurRANT (Ribes). 
Like the Gooseberry, belongs to the natural order Grossulacce 
and to the genus Ribes, of which two species, viz., R. nigrum is the 
parent of the Black Currant and R. rubrum that of the Red and of 
the White Currant. The curants are indigenous of Northern Europe. 
Low, deciduous schrubs, with smooth stems; leaves variable, and 
not unlike a vine leaf in outlines; more or less lobed; flowers small, 
vellow, crimson or white. 
The English name Currant is derived from Corinth on account 
of their resemblance with the Zante Grape, which was formerly al- 
most entirely imported from Corinth. 
Propagation by eutting when the wood is ripe is generally 
resorted to. The buds, except the topmost two, which are above the 
ground, are cut off before setting in order to check the suckering 
habit of the plant. The soil must be heavy, rather than light and 
sandy, and must also be fertile and well manured, the plant being a 
gross feeder. : 
