.CUKEANTS. 



rather coarse, juicy, melting, rich, slightly acid, mingled with sweet, and a peculiarly 

 fine aroma. Season — October to middle of December. It grows very finely on 

 Quince, is a good and regular bearer, and the fruit is equalled by few autumn Pears. 



CURRANTS. • - 



BY JOHN SAUL, WASIIIKGTON, D. C. 



Were we to search through the whole catalogue of fruits, we could not find one pos- 

 sessed of so many sterling good qualities as this; and yet how much neglected. I was 

 much pleased with the plate in the January number, accompanied with the editor's 

 excellent remarks. Well has he described the little regard paid either to its planting, 

 after culture, or the improvement of the race. In the latter particular I know of no 

 fruit more susceptible of improvement. We have Reds of various shades of color and 

 length of bunch ; some very acid, others again agreeably sweet. There are Whites 

 with fine long bunches, yet wanting the flavor of the old small variety. While we 

 have now Blacks with foir sized bunches ; I say fair sized, for Blacks are not yet what 

 they might be. What an extensive field for the hybridist — one that promises a rich 

 reward ; for we have size, flavor, and color. With such materials to blend together, 

 the skillful hybridist can not fail to improve this class of fruits. 



Having cultivated for some years several varieties, I will give a list of them, noting 

 what I may consider best. 



1. Champagne. — In foliage, wood, and habit, this belongs to the Red class. Color 

 delicate rosy-pink, and would appear like a cross between a Red and White, from the 

 color of the fruit ; but wood, foliage, and growth, set it down at once among the Reds. 

 This variety is scarce in England. The bunches are small, yet it is much in demand, 

 where known, for preserving. 



2. Red Dutch. — "Bunches short. This is a sweet, rich, and good Currant." Thus 

 has it been described by Mr. Rivers, in the last edition of his catalogue. When we 

 consider the many good qualities of the Red Dutch, it is a free grower, a good bearer, 

 a fair sized bunch, with large, high colored, rich berries ; and above all, for jams and 

 jellies it has no superior, if it has an equal. It is one of the best Red Currants. 



3. Red Dutch, Long-Bunched. — This is a fine long-bunched, large-berried variety of 

 the above. It is later, and rather more acid. 



4. Red Grape. — A very fine long-bunched variety Avith large berries, but very acid. 



5. Knight'' s Early Red. — Bunches and berries about medium size, moderately 

 sweet. A very good early Currant. 



6. Knighfs Large Red. — Bunches long, berries large, medium season. A fine 

 large Currant, but inclined to be acid. 



7. JLuighfs Sweet Red. — A really good, sweet. Red Currant, with long bunches and 

 berries. 

 Palmer^s Large Red. — In this we have a very fine, long-bunched, large-berried 



