1880. ] 
CHOICE GOOSEBERRIES 
57 
crossed with K. cerinthoides, the second a free 
autumn and early winter bloomer, raised from 
E. retorta major crossed with E. Linnceoides. 
—T. M. _ 
CHOICE GOOSEBERRIES. 
[Plate 512.] 
E have to thank Mr. C. Leicester, 
nurseryman, Crompton Road, Mac¬ 
clesfield, for samples of the varieties 
of prize Gooseberries represented in the accom¬ 
panying plate. Mr. Leicester, who is the 
compiler of the Gooseberry Growers Register, 
a little handbook published annually, and con¬ 
taining records of all the Gooseberry shows of 
the northern districts, is a well-known au¬ 
thority on the subject, and has selected the 
varieties figured as much for their merit on 
the score of quality, as for their distinctness. 
There is no greater mistake than to condemn 
the large prize fruits on the score of indifferent 
quality ; some may, indeed, prove to be inferior, 
but others are well known and appreciated for 
their excellent flavour. The following notes 
and descriptions of the sorts represented have 
been kindly furnished by Mr. Leicester :— 
Fig. 1. Telegraph (Poulson). — Raised by 
the late Mr. Edward Poulson, of Boothen, and 
let out by him at Longton, Staffordshire, in 
October, 1850. Berry smooth-skinned, of 
medium length, plump, and well formed; 
colour deep bright green ; flavour fine. In 
1852, weighed 29 dwts. 4 grs.; in 1864, 
29 dwts.; and in 1875, 29 dwts. 7 grs. Very 
prolific, makes sliort-jointed stiff wood, and 
forms a compact bush. 
Fig. 2. London (Banks).—This was let out by 
Mr. J. Banks, Jun., at Acton, near Northwich, 
Cheshire, in October, 1831. Berry smooth¬ 
skinned, long and well formed ; colour dark red. 
The largest and most successful prize Gooseberry 
ever sent out, being the champion berry of the 
following twenty-six seasons, since 1839 :— 
1839 ... 
Dwts. Grs. 
... 29 0 
1853 .. 
Dwts. 
... 31 
Gr 
4 
1840 ... 
... 32 O 
1856 .. 
... 31 
16 
1842 ... 
... 31 17 
1857 .. 
... 29 
11 
1843 ... 
... 32 0 
1858 ... 
... 34 
7 
1844 ... 
... 35 12 
1860 .. 
... 33 
0 
1845 .. 
... 36 16 
1861 .. 
... 29 
22 
1846 ... 
... 27 21 
1864 ... 
... 36 
4 
1847 .. 
... 28 0 
1865 .. 
... 33 
12 
1848 .. 
... 31 19 
1866 ... 
... 26 
10 
1849 .. 
... 27 19 
1868 .. 
... 29 
13 
1850 .. 
... 27 10 
1869 ... 
... 27 
19 
1851 .. 
... 27 12 
1871 ... 
... 31 
20 
1852 ., 
... 37 7 
1879 ... 
... 27 
18 
Our old favourite has until recently been far 
in advance of all other varieties for weight. 
There are, however, several other claimants that 
will in all probability come in for a fair share 
of the honours; notably the following:—viz., 
Bobby (Orchard), a liairy-skinned berry, long 
and well formed; colour dark rough red : in 
1875, the heaviest berry of the season of any 
colour, weighing 34 dwts. 20 grs. Antagonist 
(Oldfield), a hairy-skinned berry ; long and 
well formed; colour creamy-white : in 1863, 
34 dwts. 21 grs. Garibaldi (Walton), a heavy¬ 
skinned berry ; colour light golden-yellow : in 
1873 the heaviest gooseberry of the season of 
any colour, 32 dwts. 17 grs. Macaroni , a hairy- 
skinned berry, of medium length ; colour dark, 
mottled red : in 1874, the heaviest berry of 
any colour shown, 35 dwts. 20 grs. In addi¬ 
tion to the foregoing may be noticed, as likely 
to take a leading part, Lord Derby , previously 
noticed [figured in Florist, 1871, p. 1, 
t. 363] ; also British Gale , a green variety, 
smooth-skinned, long, and well formed ; colour, 
deep bright green. A late berry of first-class 
merit. 
Fig. 3. Snowdrop (Bratherton). — Raised 
by the late Mr. Joseph Bratherton, and let out 
by him at Wistaston, in October, 1843. Berry 
hairy-skinned, of medium length and well 
formed; colour clear white, with conspicuous 
bright green veins ; a most beautiful fruit, of 
the finest flavour: in 1852 it weighed 34 dwts. 
5 grs. ; the heaviest white gooseberry ever ex¬ 
hibited up to that date, and but once exceeded 
by any of its class, when, in 1863, Antagonist 
attained the extraordinary weight of 34 dwts. 
21 grs. It is very prolific, a vigorous grower, 
makes long wood of medium strength, and 
forms a good bush. 
Fig. 4. Fascination (Weston).—Raised 
by Mr. Joseph Weston, and let out by him at 
Sutton, Macclesfield, Cheshire, in October, 
1877. Berry hairy-skinned, of medium length, 
and well formed; colour creamy-white : in 
1875, shown as a seedling, 23 dwts. 4 grs. ; in 
1878, from a small newly-planted tree, 21 dwts. 
12grs., in an unripe state. It is very prolific, 
a vigorous grower, and forms a fine spreading 
bush ; a most promising new variety, at present 
scarce. 
The peculiarities of the several varieties have 
been well brought out by Mr. Macfarlane in the 
accompanying plate, which has been prepared 
from his drawings.—T. Moore, 
