VARIETIES OF CURRANTS 



441 



with red, tender, very juicy, sprightly subacid becoming mild; quality good 

 to very good; seeds numerous, large. 



698. Giant Red. — This is a new currant with a reputation yet 

 to make in commercial plantations. On the grounds of the Ex- 

 periment Station, Geneva, New York, it is surpassed by several 

 older varieties of its type, that of Versailles, of which it is a 

 seedling. Giant Red was grown by E. P. Powell, Clinton, New 

 York, from seed planted in 1895. 



Plants very tall, upright, productive, healthy; canes stout. Leaves large, 

 milky-green, thick, held nearly flat. Flowers midseason, slightly tinged 

 with red. Fruit midseason; clusters of medium length, compact, well filled 

 to the end; stems long, making picking easy; berries medium to large, 

 bright red; flesh firm, medium juicy, sour, too acid for pleasant eatiiig; 

 seeds large, numerous. 



699. Fay (Fig. 259) is one of the best of the large-fruited red 

 currants. Clusters and berries are large and 



very uniform in size, making a most attractive 

 product. The cluster-stems are long, there- 

 fore harvesting is easy. The berries are dark- 

 red, sprightly, juicy, and thin-skinned, quali- 

 ties that make the fruit one of the best for 

 canning and jellies. The bushes are not large, 

 and the yield is not so heavy as with some 

 other varieties, unproductiveness being the 

 chief defect. Fay originated in 1868 with 

 Lincoln Fay, Portland, New York. 



Plants of medium size and productiveness, healthy, 

 spraAvling in habit. Leaves large, very rugose, point- 

 ing dowmvard, olive-green. Flowers early, green 

 tinged with red. Fruit early midseason; clusters 

 large, 12-15 berries, loose, with long stem, uniform; ^^' "^ * ^^' 



berries cling well, large, round, rather dark red; flesh 



reddish, firm, juicy, subacid, mild and pleasant; quality very good; seeds 

 small, rather numerous. 



700. London Market is considered the best red currant in 

 man}^ parts of the ^Middle AVest. Its chief commendatory char- 

 acters are ability to Avithstand hot dry weather, and resistance 

 to currant-borers, and diseases. It is said to be also the most 



