206 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ September, 
occasion about 450 berries were weighed, and of these ninety-five took prizes, 
and suffered the usual decapitation of being “ topped and tailed,” so that they 
cannot be exhibited elsewhere. 
The “ weigher’s ” duty is to take the berries from the exhibitors, and with a 
pair of apothecary’s scales before him to accurately weigh the berries with 
Shylock’s acuteness, each decision being registered by the secretary, who sits 
by his side. This operation extends over three or four hours. These two 
gentlemen were not to be envied in the least, for it was one of those fearfully hot 
days for which 1876 will be celebrated, and the room was crowded with 
enthusiastic Gooseberrians, who eagerly crowded round the weigher and his 
assistant, and watched the scaling of their pet berries. To the uninitiated it 
may seem strange to see with what care the berries are brought in small boxes 
carefully wrapped in cotton wool, but there is an earnestness and enthusiasm 
amongst Gooseberry-growers such as we find still amongst old fiorists who, with 
their hearts in their work, cultivate and exhibit with an earnestness of purpose 
it does one good to see. 
The following are the names and weights of some of the leading berries at 
this exhibition:— 
Dwt, Gr. 
Dwt. Gr. 
Three heaviest of any colour, three 
Best pair of twins, Ringer (yellow) 
Premier berry, Ringer (yellow)... 
41 
7 
Bobbies (red) ... 
• • « • • • 
66 14 
25 
23 
Red Berries. 
• 
London 
• • • • • • 
22 16 
Lion’s Provider ... 
• • • 
• • • 
17 
12 
Lord Derby 
Dan’s Mistake 
• • • • • • 
20 8 
Clayton . 
• * r 
* » • 
17 
5 
• • • • • • 
20 5 
Maccaroni... 
• • • 
• • • 
17 
1 
Bobby . 
• • • • • • 
19 5 
Speedwell... 
• • • 
• • • 
17 
0 
Yellow Berries. 
High Sheriff 
• • • • • • 
21 12 
Criterion ... 
• * • 
• • • 
18 
20 
Mount Pleasant .. 
• • • • • • 
21 0 
Peru . 
• • • 
• • • 
18 
16 
Ringer . 
• •« • • • 
20 5 
Lady Haughton ... 
• • • 
• • • 
18 
9 
Leveller . 
• • • • • • 
19 0 
Catharina ... 
• « • 
• • • 
18 
5 
Green Berries. 
Shiner . 
• • • ♦ • • ■ 
21 5 
Plunder . 
« • • 
« • t 
17 
5 
Stockwell ... 
• • • • • • 
19 5 
Diadem . 
• • * 
• • • 
17 
0 
Sm-prise ... ... 
•»• • • • 
18 12 
Matchless . 
• • • 
• • • 
16 
5 
Thumper . 
• • • • • • 
17 17 
British Oak 
• • • 
• • • 
15 
21 
White Berries. 
Postman ... 
• • • • • • 
20 12 
Careless . 
• • • 
• • • 
18 
12 
Overseer ... 
• • • • •« 
19 18 
Transparent 
« • « 
t • • 
18 
12 
Antagonist... 
• • • • • • 
19 11 
Snowdrift ... 
• • • 
• « • 
16 
15 
Hero of the Nile ... 
t • t • • • 
19 0 
Queen of Trumps... 
t • • 
« • • 
15 
12 
In Mr. Charles 
Leicester’s 
Gooseberry-Growers* Register.^ published 
every 
autumn, is a record of premium prizes for the heaviest Gooseberry grown in 
England as far back as 1809, in which year Sportsman, weighing 18 dwt. 22Jgr., 
took the leading honour, but failed ever after to put in an appearance as the 
“ biggest,” or rather heaviest. Gooseberry. In 1810 Crown Bob, an old and 
well-known favourite, was the heaviest berry ; and up to the year 1825 no berry 
had exceeded 26 dwt. 17gr., but in that year Lion, a red berry, sealed 31 dwt. 
