CHAPTER III. 



CURRANTS AND GOOSEBERRIES. 



E currant will grow and fruit abundantly in almost any soil 

 or situation in the Northern States if given good cultiva- 

 tion; and even when it has but little care it is still very sure to 

 produce a fair crop. However, no cultivated plant responds more 

 promptly and generously to manuring and careful attention. The 

 acid fruit in any of the various ways in which it is used is healthy 

 and refreshing. It is not so universally esteemed as the straw- 

 berry, yet it is used in immense quantities each year, and first-class 

 fruit carefully marketed generally pays the grower a good profit. 

 No fruit is more satisfactory in the home garden. A currant bush 

 once planted will continue to bear fruit for an indefinite period, 

 often for thirty years. There are very many species of currants, 

 but our cultivated kinds belong to the following: 



(1) RED CURRANT (Ribex rubrum). Native of the Northern 

 States and Canada, Northern Europe and Asia. The European 

 form of this species is the parent of all the red and white varieties 

 in cultivation. 



(2) BLACK CURRANT (JRibes Negrurti). A vigorous, growing 

 plant; native of Northern Europe and Siberia. The fruit is 

 black and all parts of the plant has a strong peculiar odor, tvhich 

 to many people is unpleasant until they become accustomed to it. 

 The fruit is grown only in quite a limited way. In many markets 

 there is no demand for it, while in others it brings a higher price 

 than the common currant. It is easily grown. Valued medicinally 

 for throat troubles. 



(3) MISSOURI OR FLOWERING CURRANT (Ribes Anreum). A vig- 

 orous plant ; native of Mississippi Valley ; having beautiful, sweet- 

 scented yellow flowers early in the spring. It is much cultivated 

 for ornamental purposes. Fruit large, purplish black and rather 

 astringent. A few varieties of this species have recently been in- 

 troduced as fruit plants, but none of them have proved sufficiently 

 valuable to warrant their extensive cultivation. 



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