294 
THE GOOSEBERR' 
White Ischia. Tho.np 
Green Ischia. Lind. Fors. 
A very small fig, but one of the hardiest of the light coloured 
ones. Fruit about an inch in diameter, roundish-obovate. Skin 
pale yellowish green, very thin, and, when fully ripe, the darker 
coloured pulp appears through it. Pulp purplish, and high fi$3, 
voured, A moderate grower and good bearer. 
CHAPTER XVI. 
THE GOOSEBERRY. 
Ribes Grossularia , Arb. Brit. Grossulacece , of botanists. 
Grosseiller , of the French ; Stachelbeerstrauch, German ; Uva Spino, 
Italian; Grossella, Spanish. 
The gooseberry of our gardens is a native of the north of 
Europe, our native species never having been improved by gar- 
den culture. This low prickly shrub, which, in its wild state, 
bears small round or oval fruit, about half an inch in diameter, 
and weighing one fourth of an ounce, has been so greatly im- 
proved by the system of successive reproduction from the seed, 
and high culture by British gardeners, that it now bears fruit 
nearly, or quite two inches in diameter, and weighing an ounce 
and a half. Lancashire, in England, is the meridian of the 
gooseberry, and to the Lancashire weavers, who seem to have 
taken it as a hobby, we are indebted for nearly all the surpris- 
ingly large sorts of modern date. Their annual shows exhibit 
this fruit in its greatest perfection, and a Gooseberry Book is 
published at Manchester every year giving a list of all the prize 
sorts, etc. Indeed the climate of England seems, from its moist- 
ness and coolness, more perfectly fitted than any other to the 
growth of this fruit. On the continent it is considered of little 
account, and with us, south of Philadelphia, it succeeds but in- 
differently. In the northern, and especially in the eastern 
states, however, the gooseberry, on strong soils, where the best 
sorts are chosen, thrives admirably, and produces very fine 
crops. 
Uses. This fruit is in the first place a very important one 
in its green state, being in high estimation for pies, tarts, and 
puddings, coming into use earlier than any other. The earli- 
est use made of it appears to have been as a sauce with 
green goose, whence the name, goose-berry. In its ripe state, 
it is a very agreeable table fruit, and in this country, following 
