308 THE SMALL FRUITS OF NEW YORK 



Possibly Naples is the most commonly grown black currant in America. Previous 

 to the law compelling the cutting out of black currants, it was more generally grown in 

 New York than any other kind. It does not, however, deserve its popularity, as the 

 clusters and berries are exceedingly variable in size, the clusters are usually small, the flavor 

 and aroma too pronounced to be pleasant, and the plants are not always productive. The 

 variety has a characteristic habit of bearing its buds on short clusters well distributed over 

 the canes. This is a European variety the origin of which is unknown. It was long a 

 standard in England where it was quite generally distributed more than a century ago. 

 It was brought to America early in the nineteenth century where it has been widely dis- 

 seminated. The variety was added to the fruit catalog list of the American Pomological 

 Society in 1852 under the name Black Naples. In the recent Society catalogs the name has 

 been shortened to Naples. 



Plants large, very vigorous, upright-spreading, very dense, -unproductive, healthy; 

 young shoots medium in number, the bark broken and netted irregularly and longitudi- 

 nally, showing darker brown beneath; leaf -buds tinged red, large, long, obtuse, plvrnip, 

 free; leaves large, cordate at the base, with short-pointed lobes, dull, light green, rugose, 

 glabrous, with slightly hairy, coarsely serrate margins; petiole short, green, tinged with 

 red, pubescent. Flowers very late, partly closed, large, dull greenish red, with a grayish 

 cast due to the pubescence present, in short, medium dense and drooping, few-flowered 

 clusters; calyx-tube greenish, sometimes with a slight red tinge, campanulate, heavily 

 pubescent, resinous; calyx-lobes oblong, medium in width and thickness, acute, pubescent, 

 with tinges of dull red; ovary resinous, pubescent. Fruit very late; clusters short, loose, 

 tips well filled; 4-8 berries; cluster-stems medium in thickness and length; berry-stems 

 long, usually with i or 2 bractlets at attachment to the berry, with large bracts; berries 

 variable, small to large, round, black, dull; skin glandular, tough, opaque; flesh light 

 green, almost colorless, juicy, rather acid, aromatic; quality fair. 



North Holland Black, i. Bunyard Cat. 26. 192 1. 



A variety closely resembling Merveille de la Gironde except that the clusters are shorter. 



Norton, i. Can. Cent. Exp. Farm Bui. 56:18. 1907. 



Originated by William Saunders about 1887. Plants strong, vigorous, spreading, 

 moderately productive ; bunches short; berries medium, briskly subacid; fair; ripen unevenly 

 from midseason to late. 



Ontario, i. Can. Cent. Exp. Farm Bui. 56:18. 1907. 



Another of Saunders' seedlings. Plants vigorous, very productive; bunches long; 

 berries medium with thick skin, tender, briskly subacid; good; midseason. 



Orton. I. Can. Cent. Exp. Farm Bui. 56:19. 1907. 



Still another of Saunders' seedlings. Plants moderately vigorous, unproductive; 

 bunches medium ; berries large, with thick skin, subacid, well flavored; good; ripens unevenly 

 but usually in midseason. 



Oxford. I. Can. Exp. Farms Rpt. 399. 1895. 



Raised by William Saimders. A vigorous grower, bearing medium-sized fruit in 

 long, well-filled clusters; fair; midseason. 



