New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 455 



attracted his attention and he began its introduction in a small 

 way as early as 1895. 



Plants vigorous, upright, dense, hardy, very productive, healthy; canes stocky, 

 long, numerous, roundish, bright red, heavily overspread with dense bloom; prickles 

 large and long, thick, strong, straight, sharp, medium in number; branches thick, 

 long, numerous, reddish, densely coated with bloom, with internodes of medium 

 length; season of bloom June 2-9 in 1912. Fruit matures early, season of ripening 

 July 8-19 in 1912, easily picked, ships well, one of the best to withstand seasons of 

 severe drought; berries large, well-colored but not glossy, very black, covered with 

 bloom, firm, uniform, sprightly at first becoming mild at full maturity, juicy; of good 

 quality. 



CURRANTS 



The Perfection currant has already assumed commercial impor- 

 tance in New York showing that its good qualities are known. But 

 the variety does so well at Geneva that we feel that all small-fruit- 

 growers should know it. Plants were set at the Station in 1897 

 and, ever since, the variety has found favor with currant-growers. 

 In form of bush and in health and vigor, the Perfection is inter- 

 mediate between its parents, Fay and White Grape. The fruit 

 is borne along the old wood much like that of the White Grape. 

 In both size of cluster and berry, it excels Fay. The fruit is uni- 

 formly large to the tip of the cluster, the stem of which is free from 

 berries near its attachment to the plant, thus making it easy to 

 pick. In color the fruit is an attractive red, slightly lighter than the 

 Fay, and the variety is superior to Fay or Cherry in flavor and 

 quality. 



Perfection was originated by Charles G. Hooker, Rochester, 

 New York, in the spring of 1887, by crossing White Grape and Fay. 

 The new variety was introduced by Messrs. C. M. Hooker & Sons, 

 Rochester, New York, in 1902. 



Plants large, vigorous, upright-spreading, hardy, productive, healthy; branches 

 stocky, smooth, long, straight, numerous, brownish, dull and with little red; foliage 

 deep green, healthy; season of bloom May 6-10 in 1912. Fruit matures in mid- 

 season — about with Fay and Cherry — July 1-8 in 1912, very easily picked, ships 

 well; clusters long, compact, cylindrical, slightly tapering; stems long, of medium 

 thickness; pedicels short, thick; berries roundish, uniformly large, cling well to the 

 pedicels, bright handsome red; skin thin but tough; flesh juicy, tender, sprightly 

 subacid, of good quality; seeds intermediate in size and number. 



The Diploma currant is well worth planting in the currant grow- 

 ing sections of this State. It is a light red currant, lighter than either 

 Fay or Cherry, with long clusters and an upright habit of bush. 

 The plants have uniformly been productive, not equal, however, 

 to Wilder in this respect, although as vigorous as that variety. The 

 fruit is more transparent than any other red currant — a marked 

 characteristic of the variety. The segments are unusually distinct 

 as are also the seeds which show plainly through the thin skin. The 

 flavor of Diploma is mild, although not so sweet as in some — Ruby, 

 for example. It appears to be juicier than most currants and on 

 this account must be handled with care, but when picked and packed 

 properly will doubtless ship in good condition long distances. 



