C ROM PTO N ’S SHEBA QU EEN GOOSEBERRY.
Compton’s Sheba Queen. Hort. Soc. Fruit Catalogue,
p . 194.
I
Among the Lancashire Gooseberries, which are
cultivated more on account of their size as prize
fruits, than for their merits in the dessert, this has
the advantage of possessing a very superior flavour.
The name of the individual attached to the
variety as its original grower, is erroneously spelled
Compton in most of the Sale Catalogues of Fruits.
Of the four classes into which the Gooseberries
are usually divided according to their colour, viz.
red, yellow, green, and white, this belongs to the
last. I t is included in most of the shew lists, but
does not stand high in the number of prizes allotted
to it. The largest berry of it produced in the last
three years weighed 18 dw ts .; this was in 1825,
when the heaviest recorded of the whole class was
the White Eagle, which weighed 23 dwts. 20 grs.
The B ranches grow somewhat erect.
The B erry is roundish oblong, and ripens early.
The S k in is thin and downy. F lavour very rich.
A good bearer.
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