WILD FRUITS OF NEBRASKA. 103 



that botanists as yet treat them as one species with many varieties. 

 It is known as Amelanchier Canadensis. The variety most common 

 here is Alinifolia, with roundish, blunt leaves, which are toothed 

 towards the summit. The flowers, which are white, are produced 

 in long loose clusters (racemes). Berry purplish, sweet, and gener- 

 ally deliciously-flavored. This berry has always been a favorite 

 with the Indians. They dry and mix it with pemican (preserved 

 meats), to which it gives a delicious flavor. Nothing is supposed to 

 give more daintiness to an Indian feast than June berries boiled in 

 the broth of fat meat. Children of every age equal the Indians in 

 their admiratioji and enjoyment of June berries. It would " pay" 

 to cultivate them for "the litttle ones" alone. 



WILD CURRANTS AND GOOSEBERRIES. 



There are four species of gooseberries growing wild in the 

 State. One of these, a " Smooth Wild Gooseberry" (Ribes hirtel- 

 luni), has smooth stems, short thorns, or none, and smooth, small, 

 purple, and sweet berries. It is not very abundant. Another 

 " Smooth Wild Gooseberry" (R. rotundifoliuni), in its many varieties, 

 is met with constantly, especially in the timber and along our 

 streams, and is a most abundant bearer. The leaves are nearly 

 smooth, roundish, three tofivelobed and truncate at the base ; stems 

 slender and from one to three flowered. It grows from two to four 

 feet high, the stems having whitish bark. One variety of this spe- 

 cies bears a berry, long, large, and green. Another variety, which 

 grows from three to four feet high, sets its canes thickly, and they 

 are covered with slim thorns of a brownish, purplish color. The 

 fruit is as large as a Houghton, sometimes larger, somewhat veined, 

 and of a clear, glossy, transparent color, oval or round, and some- 

 timely slightly flattened at the ends, and with a rich vinous flavor. 

 I have found a few specimens three-fourths of an inch in diameter 

 when ripe, and never observed them to be affected with mildew. 

 So abundant are they that the Indians often pick many bushels per 

 day for weeks in succession and carry them to the various markets. 

 They bear transportation well. Many citizens are now well sup- 

 plied with these berries from stocks transplanted from the woods 

 into their own grounds. I have myself planted the Houghton in a 

 row alongside of this wild variety, and the latter proved superior 

 in productiveness and hardiness to the former. The Swamp Goose- 

 berry (R. lacustre), whose young stems are clothed with bristly 



