CHAPTER XXXI 



VARIETIES OF CURRANTS 



The currant plays an important part in the pomology of 

 northern climates; no less than seventy red, fourteen black and 

 five golden currants have been grown at one time or another in 

 the United States and Canada. Compared with other fruits, 

 these numbers seem small, but currants are relatively stable, and 

 improved varieties are obtained only with difficulty, so that the 

 several species are represented by only few varieties. The 

 botanical classification of currants is based on distinctions so 

 fine that pomologists will find it difficult to place cultivated 

 varieties of red currants in the several species. Thus it is im- 

 possible to make sure whether some varieties belong to R. sativum 

 or R. riibriim. Nor can a satisfactory key to varieties be made. 

 The author is forced to be content with putting all red currants 

 in one group, black sorts in another, and the golden currants in 

 a third. 



INDEX TO VARIETIES OF CURRANTS 

 Bed Currants White Currants 



Cherry, 696 White Dutch, 709 



Diploma, 697 White Grape, 710 



Giant Red, 698 White Imperial, 711 



Fay, 699 



London Market, 700 Black Currants 



Perfection, 701 



Boskoop Giant, 712 

 Champion, 713 

 Naples, 714 



Prince Albert, 702 

 Red Cross, 703 

 Red Dutch, 704 



^^^y' ^^^ Golden Currants 



Versailles, 706 



Victoria, 707 Crandall, 715 



Wilder, 708 Deseret, 716 



RED CURRANTS 



>. Cherry (Fig. 257). — Bunches and berries are large, and, 

 as they are borne on vigorous plants, the variety becomes one 



439 



