978 ARBOllETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 



R. prostratum, and several other botanical species, indicated, in the following 

 pages, by an R in parentheses, between the generic and specific names, are 

 essentially one and the same thing. We have arrived at this conclusion, from 

 a study of the plants in the very excellent collections of this genus which are 

 in the Garden of the Horticultural Society, and in the arboretum of Messrs. 

 Loddiges. 



Geography. The red currant, including those forms, or botanical species, 

 which we have mentioned above as likely to be only varieties of it, is a native 

 of many parts of Europe, of the north and west of Asia, and of North 

 America. In Britain, R. riibrum, R. alpinum, and R. petre v um are found in 

 woods or hedges, in various situations, where, in all probability, the seeds 

 have been carried by birds. In Ireland, the red currant is also found wild in 

 various places, as it is in Sweden. In North America, it is found as far north 

 as the arctic circle ; and it is frequent in Greece, Caucasus, Siberia, and Tar- 

 tary ; and, according to Royle, a species nearly allied to R. petrae N um (which 

 we consider to be one of the forms of the red currant) is found in situations 

 from 8000 ft. to 10,000 ft. above the level of the sea. 



History. There is no positive evidence that the ancients were acquainted 

 with the red currant, any more than that they were with the gooseberry j it is 

 difficult to believe that the currant which must have been conspicuous when 

 ripe, and the grateful acid taste of which must have been found refreshing in 

 a warm climate, could escape the notice of the inhabitants of the countries 

 in which it was produced. The probability is, that the ancients knew this 

 fruit, though modern botanists have not been able to identify it among the 

 plants mentioned by Greek and Roman authors. In France, the red currant 

 seems to have attracted notice long before the gooseberry, and, till a very 

 late period, to have been much more valued than that fruit. Both seem to 

 have been first improved by cultivation in Holland ; whence the principal va- 

 rieties in Europe have been procured. In England, the currant is mentioned 

 by Gerard, who distinguishes three sorts, the red, the white, and the black, 

 and gives their French and German names. None of them, he says, grow 

 wild with us ; but they are to be found growing plentifully in many gardens, 

 especially the red and the white. Till lately, there were scarcely any varieties 

 of the red or the white currant to be found in gardens ; but, since the com- 

 mencement of the present century, a great many new sorts have been raised 

 from seed ; and there are now ten excellent kinds in British gardens ; the 

 best of which are, Wilmot's red, the Dutch white, and the large champagne. 



Properties and Uses. The medicinal properties of the currant consist 

 in its allaying thirst, and lessening an increased secretion of the bilej 

 and, in consequence of the first of these properties, it is frequently given 

 in fevers. The juice makes a pleasant acid in punch; and, mixed 

 with water, forms a common and very agreeable beverage, under the name of 

 eau de grosseilles, in Paris. Sirop de grosseilles is another well-known 

 French preparation of this fruit ; and, in England, currant jelly is equally 

 well known. Currants are employed for culinary purposes in tarts and pud- 

 dings ; but they are usually mixed with other fruits, and are seldom, if ever, 

 used in an unripe state. When ripe, they make an excellent wine, which is 

 a great favourite in farm-houses, and with most persons who reside in the 

 country, and like sweet home-made wines. The best varieties are brought to 

 the dessert, and are much esteemed by some. The season when the fruit 

 ripe is about the end of June, or the beginning of July; and, by having plants 

 trained on the north face of a wall, or by covering the trees or espaliers 

 growing as bushes in the open garden with matting, they may be kept fit for 

 the table till Christmas. 



The Propagation, Culture, Sfc., of the currant, for its fruit, will be found 

 given at length in our Encyclopedia of Gardening, and in our Suburban Gar- 

 ffcner. As an ornamental shrub, the common routine of culture prescribed for 

 the genus may be followed. 



