R I B 



R I B 



Such sorts as have young branches sufficiently 

 1(j\v, niav have them laid down in the autumn 

 in the slit method ; when they will mostly have 

 stricken root in the course of a year, and may be 

 taken oft" and planted out where they are to re- 

 main, or in the nursery. 



Those sorts that send up suckers from the 

 roots should have them taken up during the 

 winter, and planted out in nursery-rows in the 

 manner of the seedlings, till of a proper growth 

 to be planted out. 



The seventh and ninth sorts may likewise be 

 increased by their trailing branches, which have 

 stricken root as they rest on the ground, which 

 should be taken up with their loots entire in 

 the autumn, winter, or any early spring, and 

 be planted out either where they are to remain 

 or in nursery-rows, till of sufficient growth for 

 the purpose they are intended. 



The first and fourth sorts being the most ten- 

 der require the most shellered situations. 



Most of these plants afford a milky juice, 

 « hich is extremely acrid and corrosive. 



The three last sorts may be raised by cuttings 

 and layers with great facility. 



In the first method, the cuttings of the young 

 shoots should be planted out in pots of light 

 fresh mould, in the spring and early summer 

 months, plunging iheni in a moderate hot-bed, 

 where they readily strike root, being occasion- 

 ally watered and shaded; and when they have 

 formed aood roots they may be potted off into 

 separate pots. 



In the latter mode any of the young wood 

 may be laid down in the usual manner, in the 

 early spring, when by the autumn they will 

 mostly have stricken good root, and may be 

 taken off, and be potted out the same w ay as the 



cuttings. 



The'lirst nine sorts have a fine effect in mix- 

 ture with other deciduous shrubby plants, in 

 the borders, clumps, and other parts of plea- 

 sure-grounds ; and the three last afford variety 

 among other potted green-house plants of the 

 less tender kinds. 



RHUS COBBE. See Schmidei.ia. 



RIBES, a genus containing plants of the 

 hardy deciduous shrubby kind. 



It belongs to the class and order Pentamlria 

 Monogyiiia, and ranks in the natural order of 

 Pomacece. 



The characters are : that the calyx is a one- 

 leafed perianth, half-five-cleft, ventricose : seg- 

 ments oblong, concave, coloured, reflex, per- 

 manent: the corolla has five, small, obtuse 

 petals, erect, growing to the margin of the ca- 

 lyx : the stamina have five, subulate, erect fila- 

 ments, inserted into the calyx : anthers incum- 



bent, compressed, opening at the margin : the 

 pistilluni is a roundish germ, inferior; style 

 bifid : stigmas obtuse : the pericarpiuin is a glo- 

 bular berry, unibilicated, one-celled : recepta- 

 cles two, lateral, opposite, longitudinal : the 

 seeds very many, roundish, somewhat com- 

 pressed. 



'i'he species cultivated are : 1 . R. riibnim. 

 Common Currant ; 3. R. nigrum. Common 

 Black Currant; 3. R. Grossuluria, Rough-fruit- 

 ed Gooseberry ; 4, R. Uva aispa, Smooth-fruit- 

 ed Gooseberry ; 5. R. reclhmtum , Procumbent 

 Gooseberry; 6. R. oxyacanfliaidcs. Hawthorn- 

 leaved Currant ; "i . R. cijnosiali, Prickly-fruited 

 Currant, 



The first has smooth branches : the leaves on 

 longish petioles, doubly serrate, subpubesecnt : 

 the racemes simple, nodding, vihen in fruit 

 pendulous : the bracte ova{e, small, shorter 

 than the pedicels : the corolla yellowish green,, 

 with obcordate petals: the berries acid, shining, 

 It is a native of Europe, flowering in May. 



It is observed by Martyn, that this shrub is 

 very apt to be infested with the ylphU Riles, in 

 which case the green leaves become red, pitted, 

 and i)i:jkered. It has been long cultivated iu 

 the garden and greatly improved. There are se- 

 veral varieties: as the common sort with small 

 red fruit ; with white fruit, with pale fruit, com- 

 monly called the Champaign Currant, differing 

 only in beingof a pale red or flesh colour. But 

 since the White and Red Dutch Currants have 

 been introduced and become common, the old 

 sorts have been almost banished, and are now 

 rarely to be found. , 



Mr. Forsyth mentions the Fine new white 

 Dutch, Long-branched red, Striped-leaved re(J 

 white Currant, and Large pale and red Dutch. 



There arc also the Sweet Currant, the Smalt- 

 fruitcd Currant, and a variety with blotched 

 leaves, which is kept in some plantations ; but as 

 the variegation is apt to go off when the plant is 

 vigorous, it scarcely deserves a place in them. 



The second species is distinguished by its 

 more humble habit, its strong-smelling leaves 

 glandular underneath, its hairy racemes, tubu- 

 lar calyx, and black fruit, but especially by its 

 solitary, one-flowered peduncle at the base of 

 the receme, and distinct from it : the buds are 

 glandular: the bractes woolly, and as long as the 

 pedicels : the flowers villose, turban-shaped ; 

 the petioles also subvillose and glandular. It is a 

 native of most parts of Europe, flowering in May. 



There is a sort often termed the American 

 Black Currant. The berries have a very pecu- 

 liar flavour, which many persons dislike ; but 

 are commonly eaten in puddings in some parts, 

 and make a tart little inferior ta the Cranberry. 



