Are we entering upon a new era of the gooseberry? There seems to be
indications that a race is springing up on this continent, proof to that
enemy the mildew, and that need not be ashamed even in the presence of
the great gooseberries of the father land. The first step in this
direction was taken by the Houghton, which originated with Abel
Houghton, of Lynn, in the State of Massachusetts. Then came the Downing,
a seedling of the Houghton, larger and better than its parent. Some time
after, Smith’s Improved, another seedling of the Houghton, was sent out,
also an improvement on the parent, but no better than the Downing.
At the last meeting of the Fruit Growers’ Association of Ontario, some
fine looking gooseberries were exhibited by Chas. Scott, of Orangeville,
larger than Downing or Smith’s Improved. The history of this variety is
thus given by Mr. Scott: “A friend of mine received some gooseberry seed
from England, and from it grew some plants from which I picked a berry,
and from the seed of it raised about eight or nine plants, but destroyed
all except the one from which these were gathered, as they did not seem
to have any merit. It has never mildewed with me as yet, though I have
grown it for about ten years. It is the only large gooseberry that I can
grow free from mildew. I have Roaring Lion, Crownbob, Whitesmith, and
others, but as yet have never got a berry from them, as they all mildew
and rot off the bushes; and not only the berries but the new shoots are
all mildewed this year. This variety is a vigorous, open grower, quite
hardy and productive; soil, a sandy loam.”
At the same meeting, W. H. Read, of Port Dalhousie, exhibited a large
number of seedling gooseberries, mostly of the English type, all of
which, he stated, had so far proved perfectly free from mildew on a
sandy loam soil. He also showed two varieties which manifested a large
strain of native blood; these were fully double the size of the Downing,
of much the same color, and judging from the branches exhibited,
extremely productive. These also had been quite exempt from mildew.
In addition, we notice that E. P. Roe announces that he has discovered
in an old garden in Newburgh, New York, two seedling gooseberries, one
of which turns red when ripe, the other and later sort retains its
beautiful green color until it drops from the bush, and that both of
these are free from mildew. The berries, he says, are large, many
specimens measuring three and a quarter by three and a half inches. To
the first of these he has given the name of Roe’s Early Ruby, and the
other he calls Roe’s Late Emerald, both of which he intends in due time
to send out.
It will be a matter of considerable interest to watch the career of
these gooseberries. Should they prove to be mildew proof in other places
than these where they originated, and to bear abundant crops of
large-sized fruit, a new era in the culture of the gooseberry will have
been fairly inaugurated, and we may expect to go on multiplying
varieties not subject to mildew, until there shall be no lack of
gooseberries of fine size and of excellent quality.
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