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FRUITS IN THEIR ^SEASON. 267
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Viii. Oi/D Goosebeery A^D His Cuirakt Ee...
dimensions , for one at Dufneld , ; known to be at least forty-six years oldmeasured twelve yards in circumferenceand two plants trained
against , a wall in the garden of Sir Joseph , Banks in Chesterfield , each , extended upwards of fifty feet from one extremity to the other ,
arid afforded several pecks of fruit annually . It is to the attainment of the utmost possible corpulence in a few
chosen "berries that everything else is sacrificed by a Lancashire gooseberry-grower . Every shoot not absolutely necessary is pruned
_away ; every fruit removed but the three qr four carefully selected as the most promising ; and besides _" suckling" the plant with
copious libations of liquid manure poured at its roots , the " fancy " partially submerge each berry in a shallow vessel of water placed
immediately beneath it , thus compelling a continual absorption of moistureuntilunder this hydropathic treatment , the most dropsical
dimensions , are . , attained . Screens of paper or canvas are kept , too , in constant readiness , to be put on or off according to the degree of
sunshine that may be required , and the most watchful care shown lest the slightest injury should befal the tenderly fostered darling .
; " Or Lest the the wind sun too be g daring laring , ,
What fond fears are shown ; Far For more its welfare than for cari their ng own . "
Of course the " beauty" is not intended to " blush unseen" when the perfection so assiduously striven for shall at length have been
attained , and each owner of promising fruit therefore enters his name as an intending competitor at some neighboring " Show , " and
subscribes a small amount weekly towards the providing of the silver sugar-tongs , or copper tea-kettle , or sum of money which will
be adjudged to the grower of the most gigantic of all the fractal giants that may be produced ; each fruit , however , only competing with
others of its own complexion , red with red , yellow with yellow , & c . & cand the rank of the respective rivals being determined by their
wei , ght _y Seventy or eighty years ago it was thought a grand thing for a gooseberry to outweigh a guineawhile now a berry would
, hardly presume to enter the lists at an exhibition if it could not make at least five sovereigns kick the beam ; and in 1852 , the hero
of the day at Manchester was a red-skinned mammoth , ( for the red fruit always exceed in size any other , ) weighing no less than
37 dwts . 7 grs . The parent plant , too , comes in for a share of the honors achieved by its offspringand brings sometimes no small
profit to its owner ; for cuttings , from plants of reputation are in great request : and thus the division of a single bush not
_tuifrequently secures a sum of 20 guineas , and one has been known to producewhen sold in lotsas ' much , as £ 32 . Greater profit ,
though , than can be summed , up in pounds or guineas of any amount , must accrue to the worthy weaver whose monotonous
loom-labors are enlivened with verdant visions of a favorite
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Fruits In Their ^Season. 267
FRUITS IN THEIR _^ SEASON . 267
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), June 1, 1861, page 267, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01061861/page/51/
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