266 SUCCESS WITH SMALL FRUITS. 



VARIETIES. 



Black currants form quite a distinct class in appearance 

 and flavor, and are not as popular with us as in England. 

 They are stronger and coarser-growing plants than the red 

 and white species, and do not require as high culture. They 

 can be grown to advantage in tree form, as they are quite 

 exempt from insect enemies. The tent caterpillar is the 

 only one that I have seen injuring them. They also re- 

 quire much less pruning, since the best fruit is borne on 

 the young wood of the previous year's growth. If they are 

 grown as bushes, they need more room, — six feet apart 

 each way, — and the knife need be used only to secure 

 good form and space for air and light. Two native species 

 — Rides floridum and Ribes aureum — are cultivated to 

 some extent (for description see ** Gray's Botany"). Al- 

 though these species and their varieties are of little value, 

 Mr. Fuller thinks that they might become the parents of far 

 better kinds than we now have, since they are strong grow- 

 ers, and their fruit is naturally of better flavor than that of 

 the European black currant. Ribes aureum is largely culti- 

 vated as an ornamental shrub, and its spicy-scented, bright 

 yellow flowers of early spring are among my pleasantest 

 memories. As has already been explained, we can make 

 miniature trees of our white and red currants, by grafting 

 them on its strong, erect-growing stems. Ribes nigrum is 

 the European species, and is found wild throughout the 

 northern part of the Eastern Hemisphere. Mr. Fuller writes 

 that the inhabitants of Siberia make a beverage from its dried 

 leaves which is said closely to resemble green tea. Black 

 Naples is the finest variety of this species. Charles Downing 

 says of it : " Its berries often measure nearly three quarters 

 of an inch in diameter. Its leaves and blossoms appear 



