CURRANTS AND GOOSEBERRIES 193 



283. Ribes odoratum described. — The habitat of this species 

 is banks of streams, from Minnesota to Missouri and Arkansas 

 westward. The golden currant is just coming under cultivation, 

 only one variety, the Crandall, introduced in 1888, being com- 

 mon in gardens. Three or four other sorts of less repute are 

 occasionally grown. 



4. Eihes odoratum, Wendl. A spineless shrub attaining a height of 8-10 

 feet, young branches pubescent. Leaves 3-5 lobecl, coarsely dentate, 

 glabrous, ovate, rarely cordate, 1-3 inches broad; petioles pubescent, shorter 

 than the blade. Flowers golden-yellow, fragrant, borne in 5-8-tlowered 

 racemes; tube % inch long, stout; sepals half as long as the tube, spreading 

 or revolute; petals half as long as sepals, more or less red. Fruit round 

 or ovate, yellow or black, 1/3 inch in diameter. 



Black Currants 



In plant and fruit the black currant of pomology is so distinct 

 from the red currants that it might w^ell be given another name. 

 It belongs to a species as closely related to the gooseberry as 

 to the red currant. Possibly the relationship is closer, since the 

 black currant inter-grafts and hybridizes with the gooseberry, 

 while it has not been found that it will do so with the red 

 currant. 



Black currants are used for medicinal purposes and in cookery, 

 but are little liked as a dessert fruit. The black currant is held 

 in high esteem in Great Britain and parts of western Europe, 

 but has never found favor in America, possibly because of the 

 bitter taste and aroma, described by an old herbalist as ''of 

 a stinking and somewhat loathing savour." There are several 

 species of currants with black berries, but only one, R. nigrum, 

 is commonly cultivated. 



284. Ribes nigrum described. — Botanists describe several nat- 

 ural varieties, one with yellow, another with green fruits. There 

 are also botanical varieties with cut leaves, and still others with 

 variegated foliage. None of these botanical divisions is of espe- 

 cial interest to pomologists, who are concerned only with a dozen 

 or more horticultural varieties derived from the type species. 



5. Bihes nigrum, Linn. Black Currant. Stout upright shrub attain- 

 ing a height of 8-10 feet; stem, foliage, flowers, and fruits having a strong 

 unpleasant odor. Leaves cordate, 3-5 lobed, more or less pubescent and 

 bearing resinous dots beneath; margins serrate; lobes broad, irregular, 



