Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-07-10
Good in Gooseberries-

The gooseberry is. beginning to rise to
its deserved place in popular estima-
ton. As the fine English sorts, like
European grapes, can not endure the
trials of our climate; and as our native
! gooseberries in their wild state, are too
harsh with acidity, and with prickles,
not only upon the bush. but upon this
fruit itself. to be taken into gardens ia
| their unconverted state, we have almost
lost knowledge of what good there is in
gooseberries. Gradually, however, inl-
provement has shown itself. The old
Sweetwater was tolerable; Houghtcn
had decided merit; the Mountain seed
ling was better as a bush: Smiths q
larger fruit; and Downing's quite an
approach to the English sorts. Now
we hear OF capable growers taking up.
the gooseberry as q subject of hybridiz-
ing industry, with notable results fol-
lowing. James Dougall, Of Ontario,
has,distingulshed the evening Years Of
q long and busy life by originating
some very; distinct sorts full of promise;
some Of which have been sold for prop
agation at handsome prices, showing
that people are ready to welcome inn
provements in this line. / am sorry ]
can not now recall the name Of an
American tcnlturist who is said to have
also developed valuable new cross
breeds of this fruit.
The gooseberry is peculiar in being at
its bestfor culinary use when stillgreen,
taking the plaeesof pie-plant when that
begins 10 fail. and with great deal
more piquancy of flavor; a flavor so
penetrating and 50 appetizing as to
make one quite willing to wait for the
full maturity of the strawberries, which
comes next in the circleof fruits. Green
gooseberries, like their co-acids,! the
cranberries. keepsso we'll, that before
ANYTHING was known of the present
practice of canning fruits saad IYegeta
b,es they, used to be put into bottles, the
spaces filled with boiled water, used
cold, and SO sealed up, for use at. any
time pouneliof greens gooseaerries
requires, it is true, apeund of sugar TO
render them exquisite as tarts aor sauce,
but these two pounds have vastly more
gustatoriaI vim than two pounds Of
The pricklincss Of gooseberry bu shes.
their irregular and crowded natural
growth, and the consequent ease with
which they become choked with grass
or weeds, soon exxpe1 them from, the
gardens Of the ipdolent. Yet they are
very easily managed if time be taken
by the forelock. A boy or g1rl can very.
easily manage them,f and nesfT town
rnarketsS might readily eatn pocket
money! from their nlSure. This de-
mands, sfirst,r good sorts; next go d
soil OF liberal nnulching with MANURE;
but if the Soil is already rich, the 4lch
may be tan or coal ashes. III q bnsh
mas become csowded the tweaker sllpots ]
are Shipped out with shears. and pme
old rags o. pepper stuffed il TO keep
others from springing up. Cut out
weak shoots Of last year and very old
exhausted ones AL over the bush the
shoots should be, as evenly as pos ible, six
inches aps rt, toilet light into. the heart,
and to have fruit On. the entire head. It
is well to use the shears some as soon
as the fruit has been picked. Tie ID or
prop up shoots that wander or crowd
others With gloves and gbod slieafs .
boy viii take pleasure in the work; and
will have learned the principles that
apply to the pruning of orchard trees.
Cor. N. X. IritsHss- s sst 8