224 



STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Red Dutch is still a peer among the reds, equaling Cherry, Versaillaise, 

 and Fay in productiveness, although these slightly exceed its size. 



Holland (Long Bunched), although abundantly satisfactory, so far as 

 the plant is concerned, in a three years' trial, has sadly failed in 

 productiveness. 



A trial of a year or two longer may develop something specially valuable 

 among the recent candidates; but, so far, the improvements of the currant 

 have been exceedingly slight, if, in fact, they can be properly said to be 

 improvements. 



It is even doubtful if, today, it is possible to recommend a better list,, 

 for family use, than the old White and Red Dutch. 



GOOSEBERRIES— Ribes. 



The claim has been very generally made, and as generally accepted as 

 correct, that our native varieties of the gooseberry are mildew proof; but 

 when applied to the plant in open culture, it must certainly be taken with 

 grave exceptions, since even the Houghton, which most nearly approaches 

 the native type, rarely, in open exposure, wholly escapes a partial loss of 

 foliage from mildew; while Smith and Downing, with such exposure, very 

 generally, in midsummer, lose all save a few of the terminal leaves of each 

 shoot. True, these two varieties, usually called natives, may, from certain 

 of their peculiarities, not unnaturally, be suspected to possess a strain of 

 foreign blood. Be this as it may, they certainly are too English in this- 

 particular. 



The currant worm, Nemaius veniricosus, where the two are growing 

 adjacent, usually seems rather to prefer the gooseberry. Its attacks 

 occurred unexpectedly early this season, and their inroads, when discov- 

 ered, had already become quite serious. One or two thorough applica- 

 tions of hellebore, however, subdued them, but not till several plants had 

 been nearly or quite denuded of foliage. 



For several years past the Houghton (and that variety only) has been 

 attacked by a malady which crumples the young foliage at the tips of the 

 shoots, completely stopping their growth — apparently the work of a 

 minute aphis. Cutting away the tips so affected, usually suppresses the 

 malady, though it reappears, either during the same or the following 

 season. 



