292 Report of the Horticulturist of the 



by six feet apart there are 1815 plants to tlie acre, and a difference 

 of 1.86 pounds per bush amounts to 3,395.9 pounds per acre. It 

 appears from the above calculation that one would need to secure 

 from one and a half to two cents more per pound for black than for 

 the best varieties of red currants in order to secure equally good 

 returns per acre. There is a limited demand for black currants in 

 8ome markets and they are grown to some extent on a commercial 

 scale. 



NATIVE BLACK CUKRANTS. 



Rihes aureum^ Pursh. 



Tlie wild black currant of our woods has already been referred 

 to in comparing it with the European black currant. So far as I 

 know this species is not cultivated for its fruit. It bears dull black 

 fruit, which is rather insipid. It begins to ripen usually the last 

 week in July, being somewhat later in season than the ordinary 

 garden currants. 



There is a black currant native to the western prairies that has 

 been introduced to garden culture to some extent. It is known as 

 the Missouri currant, Buffalo currant. Golden currant, etc. It is 

 sometimes planted in dooryards as a flowering shrub. It bears an 

 abundance of yellow flowers, of spicy fragrance, and yellow or black 

 fruits either singly or in leafy-bracted racemes. It is known to 

 botanists as Rlbes aureunn^ Pursh. 



One of the most widely advertised varieties of this species is the 

 Crandall currant which originated in Kansas and was introduced 

 seven or eight years ago. Other varieties of this species which we 

 have received for testing are Utah, Golden, Jelly and Yellow Utah. 



Description of Varieties. 



Crandall. — From F. Ford (& Son, Bavenna, Ohio, 1889. Bush 

 very vigorous, tall and upright. It is very unproductive as com- 

 pared with cultivated currants of ordinary varieties. Its average yield 

 per bush for the last three years has been less than a pound. The 

 fruit has a thick tough skin that makes it objectionable for most 

 culinary uses. The fruit varies from small to very large in size 

 borne either singly or in small clusters with leafy bracts. Figure 22 

 is from a life size photograph of good clusters of this variety. 



We have also received the Crandall from M. F. Pierson, Seneca 

 Castle, N. Y., which differs somewhat from the Crandall sent here 



