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STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



3. RED AND WHITE CURRANTS— (fliftes rubrum). 



Owing to the operations of the twig borers during the year 1892, and the 

 amount of bearing wood unavoidably destroyed during the past spring, in 

 the effort to exterminate them, the product of the season now past has 

 been greatly diminished. For this reason the estimates of productiveness 

 given in the foregoing tabulation indicate but imperfectly what would be 

 the relative yield of the varieties named under more favorable conditions. 

 For this reason short notices of some of the varieties are given, for the 

 purpose of, at least in part, remedying such defect. 



Crandall (when the heaviest fruiting plants only are considered) proves 

 highly productive. The quality of the fruit, when well cooked, is good, 

 but for the extreme thickness and toughness of the skin, even when thor- 

 oughly cooked — a difficulty which, apparently, could only be obviated by 

 straining the cooked product. 



Naples (Black Naples) and Lee are the only fetid black currants suffi- 

 ciently tested here. How the remaining varieties upon the list will rank 

 as to quality, size, productiveness, etc., can only be surely determined after 

 a somewhat lengthened trial. From present indications, they differ but 

 slightly in these respects. 



White Dutch, White Gondoin, and White Grape rank in about the order 

 named, so far as rich, mild flavor and consequent adaptation as dessert 

 varieties is concerned. In these particulars they are quite superior to any 

 of the red varieties, with the possible exception of the Moore Ruby, which 

 is yet but imperfectly tested. 



Cherry, or its close rival, Versaillaise, must be allowed to stand in 

 advance of Fay so far as profitableness and adaptation for market are con- 

 cerned. All are acid and large and, for that reason, popular in the 

 market. 



Red Dutch, although one of the oldest varieties, yet stands first among 

 the red currants, so far as quality as well as productiveness is concerned. 

 But for a slight lack of size, it would doubtless lead also in the market. 



Victoria is scarcely as large as Red Dutch and is a little later. On 



