VARIETIES OF CURRANTS 447 



black; skin opaque, glandular^ thin; flesh firm, rather dry, yellowish, tinged 

 red at the skin, sprightly, rich, aromatic; quality very good; seeds small, 

 numerous. 



714. Naples (Fig\ 266). — An old variety, long a standard in 

 Europe, Naples is being discarded abroad, but 

 is still one of the commonest black currants in 

 America. It should give way to better sorts 

 on this side of the Atlantic, as the fruits are 

 exceedingly variable in size, the clusters small, 

 and the flavor rather too strong to be pleasant. 

 It is mentioned by Kenrick as a new impor- 

 tation to America in 1832. 



Plants large, very dense, vigorous, rather unproduc- 

 tive. Leaves rather large, light green, appearing very 

 early. Flowers very late, strong disagreeable odor. 

 Fruit latest of all black currants; clusters short, 4-10 

 berries, tips well filled; berries small to large, var- 

 iable, round, black; pedicel with one or two bracts ^i^- 266. Naples, 

 w^here attached to berry ; skin glandular, thick, tough ; 



flesh greenish, juicy, tart, strongly flavored, aromatic; quality fair; seeds 

 small, numerous. 



GOLDEN CURRANTS 



715. Crandall is the sole representative of R. odoratum widely 

 distributed throughout the country, being a familiar inhabitant 

 of dooryards and parks as an ornamental. The tough skin and 

 unpleasant flavor condemn it as a garden plant. The variety is 

 often sold under the name Flowering Currant. There is said 

 to be a productive strain on the market. 



Plant 8 feet in height, very vigorous, hardy, unproductive. Leaves round- 

 ish-cordate, 3 inches broad, thin, pubescent on both surfaces ; margins 

 coarsely serrate ; petiole short, slender. Flowers late, yellow, few ; pedicels 

 short, pubescent, green. Fruits borne in clusters of 1-5, drop when ripe, 

 % inch in diameter, round-oblate, black, glossy, smooth; flesh greenish- 

 yellow, rather dry, sprightly, very aromatic; quality fair; seeds many. 



716. Deseret. — Deseret, Golden, and Jelly are other named 

 sorts of the golden currant which occasionally appear in cata- 

 logues from the Middle West and Rocky Mountain regions, 

 where the Europeans grow but poorly or not at all. No one of 

 the three is as worthy of cultivation as Crandall. 



