HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. 335 



CURRANTS (Ribes rubrum, nigrum and aureum). 



Plantings of these were made in the spring of 1888, consisting of : 



Eight varieties of reds (rubrum). 



Two varieties of whites (rubrum). 



Three black varieties (nigrum). 



Crandall was also included. This is disseminated as a probable hybrid 

 between the Missouri, yellow flowering (aureum), and the cherry currant 

 (rubrum), but we are unable to discover in plant, foliage, flower, or fruit 

 anything to warrant such assumption. 



The imported currant worm, Nematus ventricosus (Klug), attacked the 

 foliage to some extent, but the prompt application of an infusion of white 

 hellebore in water, applied by means of a Woodason sprayer, pretty 

 effectually subdued them, although the appearance of the second brood 

 required a second application. 



The currant borer (whether the native or the imported we are not now 

 able to determine) proves to be a very serious enemy to currant culture here 

 at the Lake Shore, since the only known method of subduing them is by 

 cutting away and burning the infected branches, thus destroying more or 

 less of the bearing wood for the following year. Fortunately, there is at 

 least one variety — the Victoria — which, for some reason, is nearly exempt 

 from such attacks. 



The premature loss of their foliage during July and August, due, doubt- 

 less, to the attacks of fungus, is a malady to which all the red and white 

 varieties are more or less subject, excepting only Victoria and Long 

 Bunched Holland, which seem to be mainly exempt. The commencement 

 of dry, warm weather in July, following the excessive rains of the previous 

 period, seems to have afforded the occasion for such malady. 



GOOSEBERRIES (Ribes). 



The plantations of these, made in the spring of 1888, included the 

 following : 



Houghton, which, although claimed to be proof against mildew of the 

 foliage, has, with us, but partially sustained such claim. It has also been 

 subject, here, to a malady (possibly caused by a minute aphis) which 

 effectually checks the growth of the shoots so attacked, and causes the 

 leaves, at or near the tip of each branch, to become crumpled together in a 

 compact mass. 



Champion is a quite recent introduction, with long slender shoots like 

 Houghton, though more spreading, and with more and stronger thorns. 

 The fruit is no larger than that of Houghton. It holds its foliage per- 

 fectly, and continues its growth till late in the season. 



These, we infer, may be referred to Ribes Mrtellum Michx. 



Downing and Smith are usually spoken of as natives. They are more 

 liable to lose their foliage than are the former two ; and from their more 

 sturdy habit, their more thorny habit, and greater liability to loss of foliage 



