124 GBOSSULARIACE.S; SAXIFEAGACE^E. 



1635, as remarking that this fruit becomes more delicious as it 

 approaches the upper regions of its cultivation. 



TheEed Currant (Eibes rubrum, Plate VIIL,fig. 7), has no 

 thorns ; it has drooping racemes of yellowish- green blossoms. 

 It grows to the height of seven feet on the banks of the Swale, 

 both below Richmond, and high up into Swaledale ; many of 

 the places where it nourishes are very far from any garden, 

 so that I feel assured of my specimens being wild. 



The Bock Currant (Eibes petraeum), carries its clusters erect 

 when in bloom, but they droop as the fruit becomes heavy. 

 This shrub abounds in rocky woods about Eichmond. Its 

 leaves are downy underneath. 



The Mountain Currant (E. alpinum), we long sought in vain, 

 but we found it at last in a grove, a part of the property of 

 Thiernswood, in Swaledale. The situation is very high, and 

 the wood is extremely rocky. This Currant has smooth, 

 shiny leaves, and carries its raceme erect both in flower and 

 fruit. 



The Black Currant (E. nigrum), the last of the Gooseberry 

 tribe, used to grow wild in woods near Eeeth, but we spent a 

 whole day seeking it last year, and yet did not succeed in finding 

 it. Edward has the advantage of me, for he had the pleasure of 

 taking it prisoner in Xent last year. The bush was growing 

 in a very shady place, on the bank of one of the slow, muddy 

 streams. It had to thank its position for its being in flower 

 in June. The strong odour of the leaves, more robust habit of 

 the plant, and brown tinge in the spare flower-cluster, distin- 

 guish this from any of the other species. I fear the associations 

 with the Gooseberry tribe are entirely edible. The name 

 brings at once to one's mind pies and puddings, jams and 

 jellies. 



Leaving the Gooseberries we now turn our attention to 

 the SAXIFBAGE order. This tribe contains two families : that 

 of the Saxifrage, and of the Golden Saxifrage. These have 

 five sepals and five petals, ten stamens, and two styles. 



