CURRANT. 259 



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

 more promptly and generously to manuring and careful at- 

 tention. The acid fruit, in any of the various ways in which it 

 is used, is healthy and refreshing. It is not so universally es- 

 teemed as the strawberry, 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: 

 Origin: 



(a) The red currant has come from Ribes rubrum of north- 

 ern Europe and northern America. Examples of this species are 

 to be found in the varieties known as Red Dutch and White Grape, 

 which have red and white fruit respectively. 



(b) The black currant of the garden has come from Ribes 

 nigrum of Europe. Plants and fruit of this species have a pe- 

 culiar chinch-bug-like odor which to many people is unpleasant. 

 There is no great demand for the fruit, but in some markets it 

 is much sought after and brings a high price. Examples are 

 Black Naples and Lee's Prolific. 



(c) The Crandall currant has come from Ribes aureum of 

 western America. The fruit is purplish black, shining, often 

 large, two to several in a cluster. The variety known as Cran- 

 dall is practically the only cultivated form, but it varies greatly 

 when grown from seed. It seems to be little if any improvement 

 over the best wild forms. The well known IMissouri currant of 

 the gardens is a form of this which seldom produces much fruit. 



Propagation. — The currant does not come true from seed. 

 The named varieties are grown from layers, cuttings, or divisions. 



Seedlings are easily raised if treated the same as recommend- 

 ed for raspberry seedlings, but rather more care must be tak- 

 en with its seed than with that of the raspberry as it germihates 

 very quickly in the spring, and if moved after growth has start- 

 ed it often fails to grow. On this account the seed should be 

 sown in the fall where it is to grow the following year. Or it 

 sown in boxes they should be frozen until February or March, 



