A Report upon the Varieties of the Gooseberry, &c. 219 



larger, or Lancashire kinds have attained, will find it in a table 

 published in the Guide to the Orchard and Kitchen Garden. 



Although it is undoubtedly true that some objections may be 

 taken to the separation of the varieties into two races, the Old Eng- 

 glish and the Lancashire, yet, as the quality and general appear- 

 ance of the small kinds of Gooseberries are considerably different 

 from that of the large sorts, which have been raised chiefly in Lan- 

 cashire, and the adjoining counties, it has, nevertheless, been found 

 advantageous to consider them as different races. 



Class 1st. The Small sorts of Gooseberries, consisting of such 

 kinds as are known in many parts of the kingdom by the appella- 

 tion of Old English Gooseberries. The fruit, though small, is 

 generally well flavoured, its form approaching to globular, or 

 roundish oblong ; the habit of the bush is for the most part erect ; 

 the shoots being of a firm growth, with less tendency to become 

 pendulous than those of the other class, in which this property 

 seems to be the consequence of a more luxuriant habit. 



In the reproduction from seed, the quality of the fruit is often 

 improved without any considerable alteration in its size. This may 

 be supposed to take place when vegetation, in a good exposure is 

 promoted by only moderate excitement, and it is probable that 

 under such, or a repetition of similar circumstances, the sorts be- 

 longing to this class have originated. 



Class 2nd. Lancashire Gooseberries. These, as above-men- 

 tioned, are all large sorts, being chiefly produced in those counties 

 where the success of competition depends on the size of the fruit, 

 more than on its flavour. It therefore becomes a principal cha- 

 racter in this class to have the fruit large ; the branches though some- 

 times erect, are in general pendulous ; the shoots are often very 

 luxuriant, and the leaves, compared with the generality of the other 

 class, large. 



VOL. I. 2nd series. G g 



