1 1 6 FLO IVE^UXG SHR I 'BS. 



It grows in low ground or on the borders of beaver meadows and 

 damp thickets, and seems to be found in every part of the Dominion. 

 The bush is low, not more than three to four feet, or less, with not 

 very prickly stems, and smooth berries, generally in pairs ; the calyx of 

 the flower purplish, and fruit when ripe of a dark purple colour ; leaves, 

 smooth and shining, and pale beneath. 



Thornberry — Prickly Gooseberry — Ribes Cynosbati, (L.) 



The fruit of this Wild Gooseberry is perfectly rough and spiny, and 

 troublesome to gather, but in old times, was sought for by the settlers in the 

 backwoods as a welcome addition to their scanty fare. By scalding and 

 rubbing the berries in a coarse cloth, much of the roughness was 

 removed ; in its green state the berries were used in the form of pies 

 and puddings, or, when softened, mixed with sugar and milk. When 

 ripe, it was made into preserves, but the harshness of the bristly skin 

 was not very easily overcome, especially if the fruit was over-ripe. Still 

 it was one of the cheap luxuries that found a welcome place at the 

 shanty table. This is a tall bush from 4 to 6 feet in height, which grows 

 in dry rocky woods, and bears a profusion of greenish bells, from one 

 to three on each slender pedicel, in the month of May. 



Another of our native Gooseberries is not so wholesome nor so 

 useful ; this is the 



Small Swamp Gooseberry. — Ribes lacustre, (Poir.) 



Very pretty in flower, but very bristly, and the fruit small, not 

 larger than peas, in slender racemes, of a pale red-colour, and 

 unpleasant flavour. The blossoms are pink and hang in graceful 

 bunches on the weak and very prickly branches. This small bristly 

 species resembles the 



Trailing Hairy Currant. — Ribes prostratuin^ (L'Her.) 



This is the least desirable of the Currant family — being far from 

 wholesome. The whole plant is weak and reclining on the ground 

 often rooting from the joints. The leaves are rather large, smooth and 

 5 to 7 lobed. The small, round, very pale red berries are hairy, 

 glandular, and of a very unpleasant taste and odour. I have known 

 persons made very ill by eating tarts made of the Hairy Currants. 

 It is easily distinguished by its trailing habit and hairy berries, and 

 erect racemes of flowers. I have found it chiefly growing in low lands 

 and thickets, near swamps. A larger bush and of common occurence, 

 in swampy ground, is the 



