205 



as the Native Currant, and botanically as Leptomeria acida, a genus 

 belonging to the natural order Santalacece or the Santalwood family. 

 The plant is a perennial shrub with slender foliage, somewhat like that of 

 the Broom (Spartium), and is an ornamental species. It is found 

 growing plentifully in the sandy soil around Sydney and Botany Bay, 

 but also in other localities in New South Wales where the land is different 

 in character. The plant is also indigenous to several of the other colonies. 

 The fruit is about the size of, and similar in appearance to, the unripe 

 berries of the Red Currant, but does not grow in bunches. It is intensely 

 acid, and so much so that it cannot be eaten in its natural state. This 

 acid flavour is peculiar and unique, as no amount of sugar will obliterate 

 it entirely. The fruit makes an excellent jam, which the writer can 

 recommend as possessing a very palatable flavour, quite distinct from 

 any other kind of fruit. In making the jam, sugar should be used very 

 freely, and must at the least be weight for weight with the fruit. When 

 carefully made the jam may be kept in good condition for several years. 

 The plants yield fruit very regularly, and in fairly large quantities. 



CULTIVATION. 



Though as yet, as far as the writer is aware, the Native Currant has 

 not been cultivated as a fruit plant, it is certainly worthy of attention. 

 There ought to be no great difficulty in growing it, as may be assumed 

 from the fact that it has been cultivated in Europe for many years as an 

 ornamental pot plant. It is a plant that would be specially well adapted 

 for peaty or sandy soils containing a fair amount of vegetable matter. 

 This plant resists drought well, and may be grown in any climate where 

 the frosts are but light. The fruit would necessarily become popular 

 when generally known, and doubtless will always find a ready sale. The 

 natural sources of supply in New South Wales are getting exhausted 

 through the careless destruction of the plants, and if the fruit is to be 

 preserved it must be systematically cultivated, 



PROPAGATION. 



Propagation may be effected by seeds or cuttings, ^eed should be 

 sown in rich sandy soil, in pots or boxes, covering it to the depth of 

 half an inch. When the young plants are fit to handle they should be 

 potted off singly into small pots. They are likely to do best in pots, as, 

 like many of our native plants, they are somewhat difficult to shift if 

 their roots get broken, as must necessarily be the case when they are 

 lifted from the ground. Plant in lines four or five feet apart, leaving the 

 same distance between in the rows. The most favourable time for 

 planting is early in the autumn, though it may be done successfully in 

 the winter or spring. Cuttings of the ripened wood will root readily in 

 sand if placed under a bell glass, but, as a rule, better plants will be 

 obtained from seed. After they are established the plants require but 

 little care, and they will be able to stand heat and drought with impunity. 

 A plantation will last several years without requiring renewal. 



