420 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Ribes orient ale, Desfontaines. 



From Syria to Afghanistan, up to an elevation of about 11,000 

 feet. The leaves emit a pleasant perfume [C. Koch]. The berries 

 act as a powerful purgative [Dr. Aitchison]. 



Ribes oxyacanthoides, Linne. (R. hirtellum, Michaux.) 



North-America, particularly in the New England-States, extend- 

 ing to Canada, Hudson's Bay and New Mexico, ascending the Cali- 

 fornian mountains to 9,000 feet. The Currant- Gooseberry. It 

 likes moist ground. Yields the commonest smooth gooseberry 

 there. Fruit of good size, its pulp sweetish [Sir J. Hooker]. 



Ribes rotundifolium. Michaux.* 



Eastern North- America, as far as Canada. Hardy northward to 

 69 30 ' in Norway. Yields part of the smooth gooseberries of the 

 United States. The fruit is small, but of delicious taste. Unlike 

 the ordinary gooseberry, not subject to mildew. Careful cultivation 

 has gradually advanced the size of the fruit [Meehan]. 



Ribes rubrum, Linne.* 



The ordinary Red Currant-bush. Europe, North- America, 

 Northern and Middle Asia, in the Himalayan mountains ceasing 

 where R. Griffithi commences to appear. One of the best fruit- 

 plants for jellies and preserves, that cau be chosen for colder 

 mountain- altitudes. It endures the climate of Norway to lat. 

 70 30' [Prof. Schuebeler]. Near Mount St. Bernard, nTthe Aus- 

 tralian Alps, on sources of the Ovens-River the growth of Red 

 Currants, Parsnips, Cabbages, Radishes, Beet and other hardy 

 f raits and vegetables has been particularly quick, after the winter 

 rest of the soil under snow. The root-bark contains phlorrhizin. 

 During its short flowering time much sought by bees, the honey 

 thus obtained excellent. Perhaps other species than those recorded 

 here, among them some from the Andes, may yet deserve introduc- 

 tion, irrespective of showiness, for their fruits. See also an exten- 

 sive treatise on cider from Red Currants by H. Timm, in Cappeln. 



Richardia Africana, Kunth. (R. Aethiopica, Rosenthal.) 



The " Calla " of gardens. From the Nile to the Cape of Good 

 Hope. Important for scenic effects, particularly on the margins of 

 waters. Easily moved at all seasons. The fresh root contains 

 about 2 per cent, of starch. 



Richardsonia scabra, Kunth. 



From Mexico to Brazil. As an herb for pastures and hay-crop 

 appreciated in localities with sandy soil [C. Mohr]. It has spread 

 over the Southern States of North- America. 



