508 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



little of the appearance of the original. In no country in the world is this fnnt 

 brought to such perfection as in England, and in no part of England so much as in 

 Lancashire ; the temperate and rather humid air of that county being favorable to 

 it, In the south of Europe it is scarcely known in cultivation, although a native 

 of Piedmont In France it is neglected and despised. In the more temperate and 

 humid air of Holland and Germany, it is cultivated with considerable success ; and 

 it is probable, that in the temperate parts of Poland, Russia, Denmark, and Sweden, 

 that it might be grown in tolerable perfection. Next to the apple and pear, it is the 

 most useful fruit we have ; as from its hardy and compact habit, few that have the 

 luxury of a garden, of the smallest size, hesitate to adopt its cultivation ; and its 

 usual productiveness warrants its introduction into every garden. It is one of those 

 few fruits which the cottager and artisan can cultivate to perfection, and its uses in 

 domestic economy are so numerous, as to form a part of the food of a large portion 

 of the public for some weeks in its unripe state ; and when in maturity, it is a whole- 

 some and pleasant refreshing fruit to every class of society. So much is this fruit 

 esteemed in this counn-y, that means have been devised of preserving it throughout 

 the year, both in its ripe and unripe state. The provincial names by which this 

 fruit is known, are various. In the north of England it is called feaberry, or fever 

 berry; in Norfolk, fa pes ; and in some places it is called carberry. The sorts o 

 gooseberries are now very numerous ; for the last thirty years they have increased 

 very much. This fruit is first mentioned in 1573, by Turner, in his Herbal ; by 

 Parkinson, in Charles the First's time, who enumerates eight varieties. Rea men- 

 lions several; and Philip Miller says that there are many varieties. The catalogues 

 of the nurseries contain from 80 to 100 names, and the Lancashire growers above 

 300 varieties. Forsyth mentions, as being common, 10 sorts, and that there were 

 43 new Lancashire sorts in his time. The catalogue of the Horticultural Society 

 enumerates 185. The following may be considered the best for garden cultivation, 

 where flavor is an object. Many of them arc known by the title of Old English 

 Gooseberries. 



White. 



Red. 



Green. 



Yellow. 



Champagne 



Champagne 



Champagne 



Amber 



Chrystal 



Chrystal 



Chisel 



Champagne 



Early 



Early Rough 



Early 



Golden Ball 



Large Early 



Ironmonger 



Early Hairy 



(i olden Drop 



Mountain of Snow 



Little Rtd-hairy 



Gage 



Hairy Amber 



Walnut 



Raspberry 



Walnut 



Large. 



Fig 



Rougli Red 







Snow. 



New Ditto 

 Small Ditto 







Small Dark Ditto 

 Walnut 

 Warrington 

 Wilmot's Early 

 Early Black. 



Among these, Wilmot's Early Red deserves to hold a place in every garden. It 

 was raised by Mr. Wilmot, market-gardener, at Isleworth, in 1804, and has been 

 culti.dted by him ever since. It is the earliest gooseberry we know, being ripe in 

 June ; and for culinary purposes in May is preferable to all others. We may add to 

 Its earliness, tliat it is both a great bearer, and high-flavored fruit. 



The W^ARRiNGTON, or Manchester Red, which is an improved variety of the 

 old Ironmonger, has long been esteemed the best dessert fruit ; and the bushel 

 assume a perpendicular direction of growth, which occupies little space. 



