464 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



enduring the cold to lat. 69 30'. In the Australian Alps it bears 

 fruit at an elevation of 5,000 feet. This plant, familiar to every one, 

 is mentioned here mainly to indicate the desirability of naturalising 

 it in any sub-alpine regions, where it is not indigenous already. On 

 the upper Mitchell-River, in sub-alpine elevations of about 4,000 feet, 

 gooseberries 1$ inch in diameter have been reared on silurian soil 

 [R. Travers]. In near proximity on the high plains of Dargo, at 

 about 4,600 feet, this fruit developed also luxuriantly [J. Stirling]. 

 Seeds when underground may retain their germinating power for 

 half-a-dozen years [Dr. W. O. Focke]. Some varieties answer 

 better than others for vinous fermentation. Also a honey-yielder. 

 Use of the fruit for preserves now very extensive. Shelton recom- 

 mends for this purpose boiling for eight minutes and the use of ^ Ib. 

 sugar for every quart of water. Fruit-preserves should not be kept 

 in tinned vessels, only in glass or earthern ware, as the acidity will 

 dissolve some of the metal. The hybridising of closely allied 

 species may bring about new enlarged or otherwise improved sorts of 

 fruits, as in the case of strawberries. Hybridisation with R. nigrum 

 has already given good results. 



Ribes lacustre, Poiret. 



From California and British Columbia to Labrador, Newfound- 

 land and New England. Fruit intermediate between a gooseberry 

 and a currant. A pleasant-tasting Alaska variety of this is much 

 eaten by the autochthones there [Krause]. Doubtless this and also 

 some other species of Ribes would greatly improve under careful 

 culture. 



Ribes nigrum, Linne.* 



The Black Currant-bush. Europe, Middle and Northern Asia, 

 North- America, ascending the Himalayan and Thibetan mountains to 

 a height of about 12,000 feet ; also particularly fit to be dispersed 

 through forests in elevated situations. Hardy in Norway to lat. 

 69 30'. In the warmer zones a plant of mountain-regions. Par- 

 ticularly large fruits developed in the Australian Alps fully up to 

 4,600 feet elevation [J. Stirling] ; the culture or naturalisation likely 

 up to 6,000 feet possible there. Best use of the fruit for jellies and 

 other kinds of preserves. One of the best of small-berried fruit for 

 making domestic wine in colder countries, where the grape no longer 

 comes to maturity. The juice is to be diluted prior to fermentation 

 with double the quantity of water and half the quantity of loaf- 

 sugar. 



Ribes niveum, Lindley. 



One of the Oregon Gooseberry-bushes. Berries small, black, of a 

 somewhat acid taste and rich vinous flavor. Hardy to lat. 67 56' 

 in Norway. 



