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Mr. Henry states that the initial cost of plants and planting would be $73.50 

 for black currants (1245 plants to the acre) and $190.25 for gooseberries (1,200 

 plants to the acre). As in Mr. Thompson's estimate, the last item of expenditure 

 is intended for depreciation and a fair annual share of the above initial expenditure. 



Mr. Henry's currant figures are for the black, and Mr. Thompson's for the 

 red varieties, hence t!.e difference in yields and returns. 



Uses of Curraxts and Gooseberries. 



The currant is unequalled for jelly-making, and for this purpose the red 

 varieties are preferred on account of their higher color. The currant, also, owing 

 to its acidity is valuable for addition when cooking, preserving, or making jelly 

 from other fruits lacking acidity or sprightliness. Black currants are especially 

 adapted to the making of jam and pies. They are also considered to be of medicinal 

 value in cases of inflammation or soreness of the throat, and moreover, the beverage 

 said to allay this inflammation is an exceedingly pleasant one to drink under any 

 circumstances. Black currant jam and red currant jelly would be welcome addi- 

 tions to any home. 



The gooseberry is pre-eminent as a stewed fruit and for pie-making, either 

 from fresh or canned stock. They make excellent jelly also. In the fresh and fully 

 ripe state they are a most desirable fruit for eating out of hand, especially the 

 English varieties, and there is no doubt that in time this quality of the gooseberry 

 will be more generally appreciated. It is a great pity at the present time that more 

 of this fruit is not consumed in this way. Those who know rank the gooseberry as 

 one of the finest dessert fruits if allowed to ripen on the plant, and as there are 

 none of the ill-effects usually attendant on the eating of the green fruit one need 

 have no fear on that score. 



Varieties. 



The selection of varieties is an important point and should be given careful 

 consideration. Some varieties succeed well in some localities and are highly 

 recommended by the growers of that district, while they are looked upon as a more 

 or less failure in other localities. It is well, therefore, when deciding upon what 

 varieties to plant to make careful enquiry as to what varieties are succeeding 

 best for that district. For example: Mr. Macoun has found that the red currants 

 of the Fay type are too tender for the Ottawa district. The Versaillosse, Fertile 

 d' Angers, Fay, Cherry, and Wilder amongst others have all been found to suffer 

 from injury to the buds during winter. 



No technical descriptions of varieties will be attempted in this bulletin, the 

 commercial value only of the different varieties being considered.^ For technical 

 descriptions the reader is referred to " Fruits of Ontario," published by the De- 

 partment of Agriculture. 



Eed Currants. — The usually recommended varieties of red currants for 

 Ontario are : Cherry, Fay, Eed Cross, Victoria and Wilder, and to this list I would 

 add Greenfield (recommended by Mr. W. T. Macoun) and Perfection. 



Of the above varieties the Chern/ and Fai/ are probably the most extensively 

 grown in Ontario. They are very similar in appearance except that the bunch 

 of the Cherry is more compact. The stem of the Fay is longer than that of the 

 Cherry, thus" facilitating picking. Both are lieaxy croppers and very desirable 



varieties. 



The Wilder is largely planted in the States, and is highly thought of there, 

 but is comparatively little plnnt<>(l in Ontario as yet. It is certainly worthy of 



