168 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
RIBES NIGRUM x R. GROSSULARIA. 
(Ribes nigro-grossularia.) 
At one time it was thought impossible to effect a cross between the 
Black Currant and Gooseberry. This has, however, been done by at 
least three hybridists. The first to succeed was probably C. J. Burnett, 
Esq., Old Aberdeen. This skilful experimenter informs me that more 
than twenty years ago he had proceeded so far as to have a number of 
young crossed seedlings growing in his garden; but the hoe, used indis- 
criminately, closed their career before they had developed their distinctive 
characters. Ten or twelve yearsago Mr. Burnett renewed his efforts, and 
secured several undoubted hybrids, three of which are still grown by him. 
In the former as well as in the latter series the Black Currant was the 
seed parent. 
Very shortly after Mr. Burnett’s first experiments, Mr. W. Culverwell, 
Thorpe Perrow, Bedale, about 1880, carried out the same cross. Mr. 
Culverwell tells me that only one plant resulted from his first efforts, 
and that it “flowered the second year, but never fruited.” He crossed 
again, using the ‘Whitesmith’ Gooseberry as the pollen parent, and 
eight plants were obtained. The earliest reference to the plants 
is the raiser’s letter to the Gardeners’ Chronicle, vol. xix. n.s. 1883, 
p. 685. Referring to the example sent with the communication, pre- 
sumably the unique plant of the first cross referred to above, the observa- 
tion is made that it flowered profusely but did not set fruit. There were 
no spines; and while the wood was like that of the Black Currant (the 
seed parent), the plant had not the smell of the Currant. Mention is also 
made of the eight plants “ from a recent cross,’ two of which had the 
smell of the Black Currant. These were at that period, however, too 
young to show flower. 
In Dr. J. M. Macfarlane’s paper on the ‘“‘ Minute Structure of Plant 
Hybrids,” read May, June, 1891, and published in Vrans. Roy. Soc. 
Edin., vol. xxxvii., one of Mr. Culyerwell’s plants receives special atten- 
tion. The author found that differences “in leaf form, time of defolia- 
tion and habit” existed in the seedlings ; and he selected one for detailed 
examination, which appeared to be “most nearly intermediate between 
the parents,” and left “‘ others which inclined to the Black Currant’’ to 
be dealt with at a future time. 
In August 1892 Mr. Culverwell had the satisfaction of finding fruit 
for the first time. He announced this important event in the Gardeners’ 
Chromcle, vol. xii. 3rd ser. 1892, p. 161, and in the same volume 
(pp. 271, 277) a figure and a description of the fruit are given. 
Mention is made of the chief points of comparative importance be- 
tween the hybrid and its parents, in respect of their habit, the nature of 
the wood, and the character of the leaf. The fruit is described as ‘ of 
the size of Black Currants, but in colour like a red Gooseberry, beset with 
fine hairs, and destitute of seeds. The flavour partook of that of the 
Gooseberry mixed with that of the Black Currant.” 
As far as I can gather, the specimen referred to is the only one of the 
set which has fruited, and it is no doubt the same as. that described by 
