CURRANTS AND GOOSEBERRIES. 60 



being seriously injured. The fruit seldom brings the highest price 

 on account of its rather small size, but if severely pruned and high- 

 ly manured it is greatly improved in this respect. 



Victoria.— One of the latest varieties in time of ripening. 

 Very satisfactory in every way and especially valuable for market- 

 ing. Fruit red, of large size in large bunches, and it hangs on the 

 bush well after getting ripe. 



Fat's Prolific— Plant of moderately spreading growth. Ber- 

 ries dark red, very large and borne in large bunches. It brings the 

 highest price, but the plant is somewhat tender and liable to have 

 its fruit buds injured in severe winters if exposed^ on this account 

 it should be protected, except in favorable locations. 



Long Bunch Holland. — A very popular market currant. Ber- 

 ries red in color, in long bunches. Rather more liable to drop its 

 fruit as soon as it is ripe than is the case with the Victoria or Red 

 Dutch. 



Cherry and Versailles. — Nearly identical large red-fruited 

 varieties. They are not as hardy as the two kinds first mentioned, 

 but do well in favorable locations. 



White Grape is the best of the white varieties and is sweeter 

 and more desirable for table use than any before mentioned. It is 

 prolific and very satisfactory in the home garden. But white cur- 

 rants seldom bring as good a price in the markets as the red kinds. 



GOOSEBERRY. 



The gooseberry is closely related to the currant, but is not so 

 generally esteemed. There are many species, but the varieties in 

 cultivation are generally included under two species, yet a third 

 may enter into the parentage of a few of them. 



(1) Eibes hirtellum. Native of the Northern States and Canada. 

 Our best wild gooseberries belong here, and such well known kinds 

 as Houghton Seedling, Downing and Smith are improved selections 

 of it, little removed from the better representatives of the type 

 in its wild state. Varieties belonging to this class are very hardy 

 and generally most desirable. 



(2) Ribes gronmlacece. The European gooseberry in its wild 

 state is not nearly so fine a fruit as the native American species, 

 but by painstaking care m.any kinds having large berries and often 

 of luscious quality have been developed, until in England it is re- 

 garded a fine table fruit. Varieties belonging to this species are. 

 poorly adapted to the dry climate of this section, and are prone to 

 mildew and sunscald. Quite recently some very interesting hy- 

 brids between the two species have been brought out which pro- 

 duce very large fruit and yet appear adapted to our severe climatic 

 conditions. 



The directions given for growing the currant apply with equal 

 force to the gooseberry, except in a few particulars which are in- 

 cluded under the following heads : 



