1094 



PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS goosebbeey 



but have the advantage of lastmg longer. 

 In the northern parts of Scotland Goose- 

 berries grown in this way, with a 

 similar aspect, and kept shaded with 

 mats or canvas after ripening, naay often 

 be kept in excellent condition as late as 

 August and September. "When grown as 

 espaliers or upright cordons the side 

 shoots must be pruned back to two or 

 three buds. 



Insects &c. — The caterpillars of the 

 well-known Gooseberry or Magpie Moth 

 {Abraxus grossulariata) often do a good 

 deal of damage by eating the leaves, and 

 after three or four weeks' marauding drop 

 to the ground beneath, where they remain 

 in a chrysalis state until the following 

 spring. These pests may be checked by 

 hand - picking and foot - crunching, or 

 better still by dusting the bushes early in 

 the morning, when the dew is still on the 

 fohage, with a mixture of lime and soot. 

 This is not ornamental, but very effective, 

 and should be repeated when the pests 

 are in strong force. A syringing with 

 clean water or a heavy downpour of rain 

 will soon restore the bushes to their 

 normal appearance. 



The reddish-brown appearance of 

 Gooseberry leaves is caused by the Goose- 

 berry Mite {Bryobia pretiosa), which is 

 very small and apt to be overlooked. 

 Spraying the bushes with a hot solution 

 of soft soap, quassia, tobacco water &c., as 

 recommended for Plums (p. 1071), will be 

 useful, care being taken to wet the under 

 surface of the leaves, as it is there the 

 pests chiefly congregate. 



Varieties of Gooseberries 



About 300 different varieties of Goose- 

 berries have been described, and a fairly 

 large number are still to be found men- 

 tioned in nurserymen's catalogues. The 

 berries (they are real berries in the 

 botanical sense) vary in shape from round 

 -to oblong, oval and obovoid, while some 

 are large and others small. 



In colour they are grouped in four 

 classes, according to the colom- of the 

 skin, namely red, yellow, green, and 

 whitish, each of which groups has hairy- 

 skinned, smooth, or downy varieties. 



It is quite unnecessary even in the 

 largest gardens to grow many varieties of 

 Gooseberries. Only the best for flavour 

 or cooking are worth growing, although 

 some like to have large-fruited varieties 

 (some of which weigh from 30 to 35 dwts.) 



that look very well at exhibitions, but are 

 of no particular value for either dessert, 

 cooking, or preserving, and it is therefore 

 difficult to understand why time, money, 

 and labour are spent in their cultivation. 



The following list of first-class useful 

 varieties does not pretend to be an ex- 

 haustive one, and perhaps another equally 

 as good could be made out. The varieties 

 mentioned, however, have received recog- 

 nition by extensive cultivation in some of 

 the best gardens in the kingdom, and are 

 therefore worthy of attention. 



It may be mentioned that aU Goose- 

 berries in a green state are useful for 

 cooking purposes, but those marked with 

 an asterisk * are more so than others. 

 Where large and fine ripe fruits for 

 dessert are required, it will greatly benefit 

 the bushes to pick or thin out most of the 

 fruits in a green state, leaving only the 

 finest berries to ripen. Of course the 

 green young fruits are useful for tarts &c. 

 and need not be wasted. 



Bed-shinned Gooseberries 



* Crown Bob. — Fruit large roundish 

 oblong, hairy, good flavour, heavy cropper. 



Dan's Mistake. — Fruit very large, 

 hairy, good flavour. A good market 

 garden variety, and also for exhibition. 



Ironmonger. — Fruit small, hairy, good 

 flavour. 



Red Champagne. — Fruit small, 

 roundish oblong, hairy, superior in flavour 

 to Ironmonger. The bush bears abun- 

 dantly. 



Red Warrington. — An excellent 

 Gooseberry, roundish oblong, hau-y, late, 

 hangs well in autumn. 



Other good red varieties are Dr. Sogg, 

 Keen's Seedling, * Lancashire Lad, 

 Lion's Provider, * Rifleman, Sough 

 Bed, * Whinham's Industry, and Wil- 

 mot's Early Bed. 



Yellow-skinned Gooseberries 



Broom Girl. — An early and first-rate 

 Gooseberry, dark yellow, hairy, fine 

 flavour. 



Early Sulphur (or Golden Drop). — 

 Fruit pale yellow, large, smooth, early; 

 fine flavom-. 



Leader. — Fruit greenish - yellow, 

 medium, smooth, rich flavour ; early. 



Yellow Champagne. — One of the best 

 yellow varieties. Fruit small, hau'y, rich 

 flavour ; late. 



Other varieties in this section are 



